Reaction from David Moyes after Everton’s clash with Sunderland in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light on Monday
23:32, 03 Nov 2025Updated 23:47, 03 Nov 2025
Moyes during the game with Sunderland (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
David Moyes said his surprise move to bring Dwight McNeil on against Sunderland was due to the midfielder’s performances in training. The Blues boss was forced into an unwanted change around the hour mark when star man Iliman Ndiaye limped off after receiving treatment on the pitch.
He appeared to pull up after a firm challenge but Everton left the Stadium of Light hoping his issue was just cramp.
The 25-year-old had opened the scoring in a game that Everton dominated for half-an-hour before losing control. After Granit Xhaka’s second half equaliser, the hosts looked the most likely to find a winner.
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Amid that search for a foothold in the game, Moyes turned to McNeil when Ndiaye had to exit. It was a call made despite McNeil having barely been used this season, at one point having to turn out for the club’s Under-21s to gain competitive minutes.
That McNeil was introduced on the right added another layer of intrigue to the substitution.
The left-footed midfielder was chosen ahead of £35m summer signing Tyler Dibling and Merlin Rohl, the loanee who will cost Everton £18m should the club stay up this season.
Neither made it onto the pitch as they continued to struggle for minutes – though Rohl’s stint at Everton has been impacted by injury.
Asked why he opted for the former Burnley man, Moyes said after the game: “Dwight’s been training really well this last couple of weeks and we thought that it would be the right moment for him.”