Moyes to hand ‘Billy’ Toffees debut

EVERTON manager David Moyes will give his new £10 million (€11.2m) Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov his full debut tonight and is hoping a squad depleted by injuries and suspension can cope with life in the Europa League.

Bilyaletdinov, already known around Goodison Park much more simply as ‘Billy’, will be plunged into his first full match for his new club at home to AEK Athens in Everton’s opening Group I match (kick-off 8.05pm).

But Moyes will be without captain Phil Neville, out for three months with suspected knee ligament damage, suspended full-back Tony Hibbert and ineligible new defender John Heitinga. Playmaker Mikel Arteta now faces a further six weeks of treatment after a setback in his recovery from a knee operation, while Victor Anichebe is still a long-term injury problem.