Youngster strikes after Moyes blast

Everton manager David Moyes revealed how a half-time “rollicking” for rookie striker Victor Anichebe inspired his side’s 3-0 Barclays Premiership demolition of Newcastle.

The 18-year-old Nigerian scored either side of the break to put Everton 2-0 ahead before captain Phil Neville wrapped up an emphatic victory at Goodison Park with his first goal for the club.

However, with half-time approaching, Anichebe failed to retreat from a Newcastle free-kick and earned himself a booking.

The visitors immediately tore upfield and won a penalty which Obafemi Martins blazed over the crossbar.

“They were centre forward’s goals but he got a rollicking at half-time because I didn’t think he did enough in the first half,” said Moyes.

“He could have worked harder and he got involved in an incident which led to them getting a penalty kick.

“But he got his goal, so getting a second one was a good way to shut his manager up.

“I didn’t think he had his best game but he’s getting there, and that happens with young players.”

Neville’s 62nd-minute goal sent Goodison wild but not even his spectacular strike from the edge of the box could not eclipse Anichebe’s exploits.

The teenage powerhouse was born in the Nigerian capital of Lagos before his family moved to Merseyside when he was a one-year-old and settled in Crosby.

Anichebe, who qualifies to play for Nigeria and England, found the net from close range in the ninth minute and doubled his tally in the 58th minute.

He always posed a greater goal threat than Newcastle’s £10million summer signing Martins, whose penalty miss added to the visitors’ misery.

Moyes added: “Victor has got the strength and the power and he’s shown me recently that he’s very keen to improve and he’s asked to see some other players as well.

“He wants to see how (Didier) Drogba plays and some of the top centre forwards play in terms of us picking out the best bits of how these guys work.

“Obviously he’s trying to look at his own stuff and see what he can do better and also what he is doing well, which he can take encouragement from.

“He did very well and I said the other week that if they’re good enough then we will put them in, regardless of their age.”

Moyes also reserved special praise for Neville, whose mishit effort went spectacularly right and was his first Premiership strike since netting for Manchester United against Southampton in November 2002.

Moyes enthused: “He caught it right out of the middle of his foot, and for him I think it was probably the best goal he’s scored.

“He’s reliable, resilient and his attitude, for every game, is spot on. He has his failings at times but in the main his performances for us have been very good.”

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder, whose squad has been crippled by injury, suffered a further blow as defender Peter Ramage was forced off with a hamstring problem in the second half.

“We’re having to put young players in, perhaps before they’re ready, and it’s a baptism of fire,” admitted Roeder.

“I can understand David Moyes being very happy with every single goal that his side has scored, but I’m sure he would understand that if the boot was on the other foot he wouldn’t be happy with the type of goals that were conceded.

“Defensively, we need to bring players in and we are looking at targets who we can hopefully sign them sooner rather than later.”

Roeder dismissed speculation linking the club with moves for Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton and Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock.