BOSS: WE CAN COPE

Friday 2 April 2004, 11:25

David Moyes has insisted that the Blues have got the strength in depth to cope with the four suspensions that are affecting his side for the tricky away trip to Newcastle United.

Wayne Rooney begins a two-match ban for picking up ten yellow cards this season, while strike partner Duncan Ferguson misses out as a result of his sending off at Leicester City.

Kevin Campbell, James McFadden and Tomasz Radzinski are battling it out for the two striking berths, with Campbell and McFadden still searching for their first Premiership goals of the season.

But the Blues Boss will also be without central defenders David Weir and Peter Clarke, who received red cards while playing for the reserves and Coventry City respectively.

However, Moyes is confident that Everton's squad is big enough to cope with the enforced absences.

He told evertonfc.com: "This time last year we lost Brian McBride, who had to go back to America. We lost Radzinski and we only had Wayne Rooney and Kevin Campbell available to play in the last ten games of the season.

"It proved to be not enough, so I made a concerted effort this season to make sure that it didn't happen again and also, if I need to, I can always recall Leon Osman if I am short of bodies.

"Peter Clarke got his suspension while he was on loan, so there's not much that we can do about that, but I think everyone knows that David Weir's sending-off came about through a diabolical decision by the referee. We'll have to live with them."

Moyes acknowledges that the trip to Tyneside will be a very difficult one, but believes that Everton have equipped themselves well in their past two games at St. James' Park.

In November 2002, the Blues won a League Cup tie on penalties against Newcastle and led for the majority of last season's Premiership encounter in the North East until two late goals secured an unlikely victory for the Magpies.

He continued: "I always look forward to going to St. James' Park. It's a terrific place to play your football and they've got a magnificent stadium up there. They have really passionate supporters and it's always a test when you play up there.

"When I first went up there we got a bit of a hiding 6-2 on Good Friday. But since then, we've gone up there and tried to do well. It will be a hard game. They're pushing for everything, so we need to make sure that we're at our best."