David Moyes has challenged Everton’s big-money signing Tyler Dibling to understand why he was hauled off at half-time at the weekend – and laid down the gauntlet for the teenager to improve.
Dibling, 19, signed for the Toffees for £42million after a summer-long haggle with relegated Southampton. But he has so far failed to impress on Merseyside, with only four league starts.
Boss Moyes, though, says he will not tell Dibling directly why he was taken off at the interval during a poor 4-2 defeat to Brentford on Sunday.
‘In the main I will but I didn’t do this time, because I’ve done it a couple of times and I want him to start realising he’s not going to get an explanation for every time,’ insisted Moyes when asked if he spoke to Dibling about the early substitution.
‘He’s going to have to work it out for himself sometimes why you get taken off early. Sometimes you’re taking them off after 70 minutes and it can be just a case of fatigue and bringing fresh legs on.
‘But the one at half-time is obviously one that hurts because you need to realise why you are getting taken off at that time, what did you not do and what could you have done better? I hope he picks up those points.’
David Moyes has challenged Everton’s big-money summer signing Tyler Dibling (right) to understand why he was hauled off at half-time during last weekend’s 4-2 loss to Brentford
Moyes said: ‘I want him to start realising he’s not going to get an explanation for every time’
Everton believe Dibling is a star in the making and Moyes thinks a key reason for his lack of game-time has simply been the excellent form of others in his position like Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye.
But Dibling has had a run in the XI due to Ndiaye being away at the Africa Cup of Nations – and injuries to others.
Moyes added: ‘When he’s come on to the field we are looking for a bit more and he’s not had loads of opportunities, but he’s had a few.
‘It reminds me a bit of my time before when quite a few who we brought in took time to settle and I hope Tyler is in the same situation. Tyler needs to keep improving, doing what he’s doing better and we’ll see where he goes.’
Everton host Wolves on Wednesday night. Michael Keane is fit though no one has returned to ease the injury crisis. Moyes says the club will not be doing any ‘quick fixes’ in the January window and insists Harrison Armstrong, the 18-year-old recalled from a loan, is ready to start.
