Moyes On ‘Encouraging’ Signs In Summer Series Finale

David Moyes says he’s “much happier” after Everton continued their pre-season preparations by producing an improved display on Sunday evening against Manchester United.

The final game of the Blues’ Premier League Summer Series campaign, Moyes’ side twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Iliman Ndiaye’s superbly taken first-half goal cancelled out an early Bruno Fernandes penalty. Mason Mount struck the Red Devils back into the lead during the second half, but a late own goal levelled for Everton.

After defeats in their previous two outings, the performance against Man United showed signs of promise, says Moyes, who told evertontv: “I'm more pleased with tonight's game than I was with the other games because we got something from it.

“But it wasn't so much the result, it was more the performance was much more encouraging. And look, to be fair, we weren't probably ready in the first two games regarding players fit and available for the games.

“But we knew that tonight we were a bit closer to something which looked like an Everton team. The other games, we've not really looked that way. So, yes, much happier tonight.”

Another positive for the Blues was the return of James Tarkowski – named in the starting 11 for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

A second-half substitute last time out, he was in from the off against Ruben Amorim’s men – and Moyes says the centre-back is “raring to go.”

“He had a bad injury, and we knew he wasn't going to be available for the first two games,” explained the Everton manager. “But we got him 20 minutes in the second game, which was good.

“I think he's fit and he's raring to go. He's been training really, really well. He's healed incredibly well, but when the doctors give you a certain time that you've got to keep him out for, we have to abide by that as much as we can.”

Heavily involved throughout, James Garner enjoyed an eye-catching performance against his former club, playing the full 90 minutes in a deep-lying-midfield role and often the creative source behind Everton’s chances.

“I thought Jimmy was probably our best player in many ways,” added Moyes. “I thought he grew into the game even as the game went on and kept going.

“There’s a few of them who’ve had 90 minutes, there's some who've not had 90 minutes. Some have had to play more 90s than we'd want because of the lack of depth we've got in the squad at the moment.

“But no, I'm really pleased. I thought Jimmy certainly had his best game and it was a bit more looking like the Jimmy I know tonight.”