Moyes set to gamble on Beattie for home debut

EVERTON manager David Moyes is ready to give record signing James Beattie his Goodison Park debut against Charlton though he still has concerns over the player’s fitness.

The £6m striker is in line to play against the Addicks today, having played in the FA Cup tie at Plymouth and the Premiership match away to Middlesbrough.

Beattie did not complete either match and Moyes believes the former Southampton man is still not fully fit.

“He is a lot better now than when he arrived, but is not really near to what I want yet,” said Moyes.

“He was ring-rusty after playing so few games but I can see a lot of goals in him for us in the future.”

Everton are believed to have made a tentative enquiry to Blackburn concerning the availability of former Liverpool midfielder David Thompson. That move may depend on whether Rovers hold on to Barry Ferguson, who has been linked with a return to Rangers.

Moyes added: “There is not an awful lot of activity. These past few days have been very quiet. There’s very few moves on, although we would like to strengthen if we can. But I would not say it was true that Robbie Savage had a choice to come here.

“All I can say is that we are actively looking around, but it has to be the right person and not bringing someone in because people feel we are due a signing.”

For now, Moyes must work to protect Everton’s seven-point lead over neighbours Liverpool in fifth place and to halt Charlton’s charge after the Londoners won five of their last eight league games.

Moyes said: “Charlton come here in a strong position, they have done very well recently after a ropey start by their standards. What we have to do is to keep the gap we have over the clubs chasing us, and widen it if we can.”

With 15 games left and 44 points already achieved, a further 19 points could realistically ensure at least a fifth-place finish and a UEFA Cup spot for Everton.

Since the Premiership started, the average points tally for fifth place has been 63 with the lowest being last season’s 56-point tally of Newcastle.

Everton have two successive home league games now, Charlton first and then Norwich on February 2 with an FA Cup tie at home to Sunderland sandwiched in between.

It is a spell that can see them really establish their credentials on all fronts, having not lost at Goodison Park since early October.

Meanwhile, Everton have distanced themselves from claims they are on the verge of signing a new shirt sponsorship deal.

The club’s current deal with Thailand’s largest brewers, Chang Beer, runs out at the end of the season and there are claims that a new agreement with AirAsia is close.

But an Everton spokesman said: “It is true we have a deal with Chang that ends in May and that we have, like many clubs, been considering other options.

“But it is still possible that Chang could come up with another deal. But we are not close to an agreement with anyone else.”