Naismith's Long-Term Investment

David Moyes pleased with Scot's progress after cruciate injuries.

David Moyes is happy to play the long-game with Steven Naismith.

The Scotland international netted his first competitive goal for the Blues in last month's 219th Merseyside derby.

That goal came almost a year to the day after Naismith's last game for Rangers - a fateful match at Aberdeen that saw him withdrawn in the 24th minute after sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The second of his career, Naismith endured a long battle back to fitness and the Goodison chief is determined to ensure he protects his summer acquisition for the long-term benefit of both the player and the Club.

Moyes told evertonfc.com: "I do think the goal was important because Steven is coming back from a cruciate injury. He had a first cruciate earlier in his career at Glasgow Rangers.

"I spoke to Walter Smith at the time and he said it took him a while to come back. Now he has had his second cruciate so we're still waiting on him a little but he did well in the game (against Liverpool), scored his goal and it will give him that extra confidence. He will be a good, steady Everton player over time."

Moyes is confident Naismith's natural eye for a goal - he scored an average of one in three for Rangers - will continue to provide an added dimension for Everton as he seeks to increase the Blues' firepower.

He added: "He is a forward player who is used to playing in that area and scoring goals. We've tried to add more goals into our team with the players we've signed.

"We've got different players who offer us different options.

"When you have Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith there will be a style you have to play with those players. So, we've got that and we're able to use them but we also have Nikica Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini who give us something different as well. That gives us variation in our play."

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