Everton face injury blow before trip to Brighton and Hove Albion...

A setback in winger Dwight McNeil’s recuperation from a knee injury that may require season-ending surgery has

delivered Everton manager David Moyes a blow.

After being absent since the beginning of the month, the 25-year-old is now expected to consult a specialist again

to determine whether surgery is necessary.

Despite missing the last seven games, McNeil is the team’s joint-second-highest scorer with three goals and joint-

highest Premier League assist provider with three.

As the Toffees prepared to play Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex today (Saturday 25 January), Everton boss

David Moyes said: “It looks like Dwight is probably going to have to have some surgery on his knee.

“It’s a real blow because we need him back for things like deliveries and set-plays but also for his general play as,

by all accounts, he’s performed really well.”

With Everton just four points above the relegation zone, Moyes could do without the setback this weekend.

Such is the paucity of resources in the squad, he said that he may have to pitch the likes of midfielders James

Garner and Tim Iroegbunam straight back into the squad despite both being out injured since October.

Moyes said: “James is a bit further on than Tim at the moment. Tim has been back in training the last three or four

days.

“In an ideal scenario, you’d give them a couple of under-21 games and some more practice but if we need to use

them, we would.

“I need them around the squad to give me that bit more depth, so they won’t be too far away.”

This weekend, Moyes will oversee his 700th Premier League game; most of those games were during his initial

tenure at Everton. In addition, he managed West Ham, Sunderland, and Manchester United twice.

“Really, it’s amazing,” he said. I don’t think you ever believe when you first start. It’s possible that you will never

manage in the Premier League. But now that I’ve completed 700 games, it feels like a legitimate accomplishment,

and I’m thrilled.

“Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are two excellent managers who are ahead of me, but I doubt I’ll be surpassing

them in terms of numbers.”

Everton face injury blow before trip to Brighton and Hove Albion