Neville is the boss: Moyes

Everton 1 Villarreal 2

Everton manager David Moyes believes Phil Neville can make a big impact at Goodison Park after describing his debut as “outstanding”.

However the former Manchester United midfielder could not prevent the team going down to Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League third round qualifier.

Moyes said: “Phil is a very bossy player, a good holding midfielder. He is very talkative as well, giving information out to the rest of the lads as well, which is very helpful. He put a great cross in for the goal and delivered some other good passes as well.

“Hopefully Phil will have a major role to play in the whole season. He has a lot of experience at Champions League level, so hopefully we can call on that.”

Neville supplied the cross that enabled James Beattie to level the scores after Luciano Figueroa had opened the scoring.

However Villarreal regained their lead in first-half stoppage time through Josico and then put up the shutters to frustrate the home side.

Moyes believes Everton are still in with a fighting chance of making it through to the group stages.

“I believe we can go there and score two goals,” he said. “I don’t think it is beyond us. It will need a big effort, though. But I have seen the way games have gone in the past. Maybe we will get the rub of the green and the ball will bounce kindly for us.”

Figueroa, who had an unsuccessful spell at Birmingham, fired a shot across goalkeeper Nigel Martyn and into the corner following a good ball from Marcos Senna.

With nine goals in 14 games for Argentina, he is a man right at the top of his game.

Yet the 24-year-old striker chalked up only one appearance in England after being signed in 2003 for £2.5m (€3.6m) from Rosario in his native Argentina.

Figueroa never got to grips with life at St Andrews but reignited his career first in Mexico and then in Spain.

With their partisan fans right behind them, Everton – back in Europe after a 10-year gap – showed their fighting spirit by drawing level after Neville launched the ball forward.

Goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa seemed slow to react and Beattie toe-poked his effort into the net to stun the Spaniards.

Everton’s relief at drawing level lasted only minutes when Beattie failed to pick up Josico and he headed home after a cross from Juan Pablo Sorin.

Moyes could not hide his disappointment at the second goal and said: “The boy managed to get a header in from 16 yards. That goal took the wind out of our sails. It was a killer blow.

“But I don’t think you could have asked any more from the team. I think the fans appreciated their effort by clapping them off the park.”

Everton skipper David Weir echoed his manager’s comments by stating that the game is not over.

He told ITV2 : “We gave it a massive effort, all fairness to the boys – we gave it all in the second half. We are still in the tie and we will give it everything we have got. They are a clever team, they have done it before and this is our first time in Europe.”

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini said: “I am happy with our performance - the match went according to plan. We said before the match we would be delighted to get a goal, so to get two is very special.

“We knew Everton would be powerful and physical but we matched a very tough rival.”