Source: Team_Talk
Moyes tells Spain to take the Mik
Everton boss David Moyes believes Mikel Arteta would be the perfect replacement for Cesc Fabregas in Spain's World Cup squad.[LNB] Arsenal playmaker Fabregas is now facing a race against time to prove his fitness for this summer's tournament in South Africa after breaking his leg in midweek.[LNB]Everton midfielder Arteta has never been capped by his country and his push for recognition after returning from an 11-month injury lay-off in January appeared to have come too late.[LNB]The 28-year-old could now have a chance but Moyes still thinks it is unlikely - even though his form is good enough.[LNB]"I wouldn't want his chances to increase because of injury to Cesc Fabregas - I don't want anybody to be injured," said Moyes.[LNB]"But I think Mikel's form might just have come at the right time.[LNB]"My feeling is it will just be too late. I hope it is not, because if he could make the Spanish squad it would be something he'd be really keen on.[LNB]"The way he has been playing for us recently, he must be getting much closer.[LNB]"I know there are a lot of good players in Spain but if you are playing as well as he was and scoring goals as well, I think that could give him a chance."[LNB]Something else likely to count against Arteta is the slight groin strain he is currently carrying.[LNB]Arteta had scored four goals in as many games before being rested for last week's goalless draw at Wolves in the Premier League.[LNB]Moyes admits he is again unlikely to be risked as Everton chase an eighth successive home win against West Ham at Goodison Park on Sunday.[LNB]"Obviously if he is missing for a game or two now that will make it harder as well," said Moyes.[LNB]"It is not something we should be overly concerned about but the way we put Mikel back in so quickly and what we demanded of him, in the end I thought something would probably go.[LNB]"The workload his body has had to take has been too much.[LNB]"It might be the same with Phil Jagielka because we have wanted to keep putting him in.[LNB]"We need to keep an eye on the ones who have been out for a year and make sure we don't give them too much too soon."[LNB]Arteta and Jagielka have both recently returned from serious knee injuries and Moyes feels they could have a big role to play in helping Dan Gosling through his own injury nightmare.[LNB]Midfielder Gosling, 20, damaged a cruciate ligament at Wolves last week and has been ruled out for nine months.[LNB]Moyes said: "It is a terrible blow for the boy, he has been making really good progress over the last season or so.[LNB]"They can't operate on him for a month or so because he has also got medial ligament damage as well.[LNB]"He was really upset about it but he has come to terms with it and now he has got to get the operation done and then look forward.[LNB]"He has got the likes of Mikel and Phil to look to who have had similar operations recently and both of them are doing pretty well at this moment in time.[LNB]"Everybody knows the cruciate is a bad injury but it is nowhere near as bad as it used to be."[LNB]Everton can turn the heat up on relegation-threatened West Ham at the weekend and, as the Toffees continue a late push for Europe, Moyes has no room for sympathy.[LNB]Everton, currently eighth, are two points behind Aston Villa above them and five adrift of sixth-placed Liverpool with six games of their season remaining.[LNB]Moyes said: "They would rather not be in the position they are in but at this present time I am trying to concentrate on Everton.[LNB]"I want us to finish the season on a high. We are in good home form and we want to keep that going.[LNB]"We can't afford to drop too many more in the run-in if we are to have a chance of catching the teams above us."
