Moyes Envies Fulham Schedule

Blues boss would 'love' European distraction.

Everton manager David Moyes admits there will be times when Fulham feel the effects of their gruelling early season schedule - but says he'd love to be in their shoes.

Sunday's fixture against Everton will be the Cottagers’ 21st of a campaign which began in June with Europa League pre-qualifiers. Sunday’s fixture against the Blues will be the sixth time Martin Jol's side have played a Premier League game after a midweek fixture this term.

Moyes, who has learned to juggle domestic and European football in previous seasons, admits it can be difficult to keep the players fresh - but that it's a headache he'd be happy to have. 

"It can be tough but I'd take it today if you gave it to me, I would love it to be us you were talking about playing Thursday-Sunday because here at Everton we need European football and desperately want to be back in it because we've not been involved the last couple of years now,” he told evertonfc.com.

"It is awkward and it does make your job a bit more difficult but I'd rather have it than not have it.

"It can be tiring, the players psychologically will be aware of the amount of games that they've played.

"There will be games when they'll dip when you least expect and there will be other games when it doesn't look as if it's affecting them at all - it's diffiuclt but they have to do their job at Fulham and we have to do ours here.”

The Blues have only won one of their 10 Premier League away games against Fulham, when a Leon Osman brace helped them to victory in May 2009 a week before the FA Cup final.

Meanwhile the Cottagers have lost just one of their last 13 top flight matches at Craven Cottage.

"I'm aware that Fulham have got a very good home record and we've always found it hard at Craven Cottage, but we'll go there and try and get all three points," said Moyes.

"Martin has come in and I'm sure tried to alter things and change things himself and move Fulham on and they've signed one or two interesting players.

"I'm sure he'll do fine because he's a very experienced coach and manager and I'm sure he'll get Fulham going in the right direction."