Source: Team_Talk
Rodwell keeps Cahill on his toes
Everton manager David Moyes has warned Tim Cahill that rising star Jack Rodwell is gunning for his place.[LNB] Midfielder Rodwell, 19, is regarded as one of the hottest young properties in the English game and is tipped to win a call-up to the senior England team in the near future.[LNB]Such is the strength of Everton's midfield that Rodwell often has to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench but Moyes feels he has the potential to take on the mantle of the talismanic Cahill.[LNB]Moyes said: "I see Jack, in a way, pushing Tim Cahill at the moment.[LNB]"I think Jack is looking as if he is better, at this present time in his career, at getting forward.[LNB]"He can score with his feet, he can score with his head.[LNB]"He is one that will maybe put a bit of pressure on Tim Cahill in coming from deeper in midfield and scoring."[LNB]Moyes, however, stresses he will not risk overburdening Rodwell, who signed a new five-year contract in the summer, by playing him too often too soon.[LNB]The Scot believes the youngster has a big future but is bemused by post-World Cup talk that he should be ushered into the England side.[LNB]"It's strange," Moyes said.[LNB]"He played regularly last season and no one was calling for him then.[LNB]"It was as if the England team was set. Suddenly they are now calling for him.[LNB]"But young boys take their chance when they get it - Jack Rodwell certainly took his chance and continually improved. He is doing that again this year.[LNB]"Jack is a really good player, he is going to be an excellent player.[LNB]"We have done well with young players over the years and we will bring them through at the right time and in the right way.[LNB]"Jack will play lots of games for Everton and go on to become a good player, but it will be in our time."[LNB]Rodwell impressed in his first start of the season by scoring and creating another goal as Everton thrashed Huddersfield 5-1 in the Carling Cup in midweek.[LNB]With 21-year-old winger Seamus Coleman also shining at right-back, Moyes has a selection headache for Sunday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.[LNB]Moyes said: "I thought some of the performances were good. I don't know if it has made my decision any harder because it was a pretty tough shout before.[LNB]"Age doesn't matter to me - I put them in if they are good enough, I put them in if they play well enough.[LNB]"I thought Jack played very well the other night.[LNB]"I thought Seamus Coleman in the first half was very poor - he gave away the goal and nearly another goal - but his performance in the second half improved.[LNB]"He showed what he could do and what he should have been doing. He made sure he made the winger defend rather than him having to defend.[LNB]"Jack played 25 games for us last season and is a regular. He is always there or thereabouts."[LNB]Everton are still looking for their first league win of the season after defeat at Blackburn and a Goodison Park draw with Wolves.[LNB]Moyes is not concerned at results so far but admits his team may still be lacking up front despite the summer signings of Magaye Gueye and Jermaine Beckford.[LNB]He said: "We improved against Wolves but weren't good enough to finish the job off and a bad mistake cost us the goal.[LNB]"Apart from after their goal, when Wolves got a bit better, we didn't look under that much pressure.[LNB]"But we look a little bit short in goal attempts and opportunities we get.[LNB]"We were OK against Huddersfield but it is something I need to think about, if we have got enough at the top end of the pitch."[LNB]Yet despite those shortcomings, Moyes is not expecting to make any moves in the transfer market before the summer window closes on Tuesday.[LNB]"I'll be surprised if we do," he said.[LNB]"We don't have any funds to do that just now."
