David Moyes says he's been impressed by the younger members of his squad even though they've been thrown in the deep end.

The Everton manager explained that due to the number of senior players injured this season his teenage stars have been used more than he would wish.

Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling are the two young guns who have featured regularly in the first team set-up this term.

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"The one thing we encourage at Everton is putting the young boys in the line-ups,” he said.

"There's an element of sink or swim when you do that and in the main our boys have swum through it."

Moyes had planned to rest his young players more this season to help them acclimatise to the demands of the Premier League.

"I would of liked to have used the likes of Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling in certain games and at the right moments for them, then given them a rest,” he continued.

"But we've not had enough options to do that so we know we are giving them a hard shift at the moment.

"If you are a young boy you certainly want to play though," added Moyes.  "In fact, I think it will help their development in the long run.  If we have got boys and I think they are good enough they will get put into the team, it's as simple as that at Everton."

While in the past, top flight managers have been criticised for not blooding their young talent, the Blues manager says he's always looking to bring youth through.

"If we keep producing boys who are good enough to be in the team I will give them a chance regardless of their age and at the moment, because of our injury list, they are certainly getting an opportunity," he concluded.