Moyes has few options

Everton will be stripped to the bare bones as they fight for Barclaycard Premiership survival points at Newcastle – which puts the spotlight onto midweek international success stories Tobias Linderoth and James McFadden.

Linderoth played for Sweden in his country’s defeat of England on Wednesday, while McFadden came off the bench to fire home a quality goal for Scotland, even if he could not save them from defeat by Romania.

With Everton missing suspended quartet Duncan Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, David Weir and Peter Clarke suspended and injured duo Francis Jeffers (back) and Alan Stubbs (groin), boss David Moyes finds himself leaning on the less famous names in his squad.

Rooney has been outstanding recently as Everton have battled to haul themselves to a respectable league position.

But elsewhere Moyes will be looking for others to carry his team, which many feel rely too much on Rooney anyway.

Midfielder Linderoth, having fought his way back into the side at the beginning of their five-match unbeaten run, will be crucial.

And so could be former Motherwell youngster McFadden, who has been used sparingly of late, prompting Scotland boss Berti Vogts to complain: “I could not start him against Romania because he isn’t getting enough football at Everton.”

Even McFadden showed his frustrations after his midweek goal, saying: “It was nice to score a special goal like that, because I am not getting much of a chance at Everton at the moment.”

Moyes, though, will have no qualms about throwing the youngster in against Newcastle, saying: “James has a chance of being involved.

“He scored a good goal in midweek for Scotland and is certainly a young player we have got really big hopes for. In time he will certainly show that.”

On Linderoth, Moyes added: “Tobias has got himself in the side at the moment and is doing a steady job for us.

“Our last five games have been consistent, we have not lost and there is something to build on – and Tobi has been involved in all of those and done well.”

Everton will start with Tomasz Radzinski up front, and much will depend on a late fitness test for Campbell, who has been struggling with a back injury.

Moyes said: “Kevin has trained this week after picking up a back problem, and we will make an assessment on him nearer the kick-off.”

If Campbell is ruled out, McFadden will certainly start, but the youngster seems certain to be involved at some stage.

Everton, six points above the relegation zone, can ill-afford to leave St James’ Park with nothing, although few would put money on them improving on a record of one away win all season in the league.

The manager continued: “We are still in need of another couple of wins to make sure we are okay, but we want to win the majority of our final eight games.

“It will push us much higher up the table, and every position in this division is worth prize money.

“We have performed well of late, we have gone five without a defeat, and we need to continue in that vein.

“At the moment we are on a decent run and we need to keep that going as long as we can.

“We have had too many games this season when we haven’t got any reward even though we have maybe played better than in this current run.”

“We still need to get some away wins, I have been very disappointed with our current form on away grounds.

“If this continues we will have to look hard at things, but I still think these players are good enough to get away results.

“They have done pretty well away from home recently without getting the points, so they are capable.

“It is not down to luck, you make your own luck. It is all down to the players and the staff to improve things.”

Moyes is aware Everton will be running into Alan Shearer again – the former England man’s strike in the same match last season was one of the goals of the campaign.

Moyes said: “Shearer is still a role model, a terrific player and continues to be one – it looks like he will continue scoring goals right to the end.

“He has been a goalscorer from the first day of his career and you can be sure he will be doing just the same on his last day.

“There have been very few better in the last 10 to 15 years in my eyes.”