Moved On By Moyes

With Yozzer now at Northampton, Moyesy has told us why.

Moyesy says: "Mark was a very good lad to have around the place. But he wanted to be playing and we felt it was right for him to move on. We wanted what was best for him and he has got a chance to get some experience. A couple of clubs had come in but he felt Northampton was the best one. We wish him all the best because he is a great lad and we enjoyed having him here." (02/02/07)

New Derek Mountfield

Yosser scored his 4th goal of the season when he netted for the Rezzies on Tuesday. Everton coach Andy Holden has been reminding the Senior players that they should be taking a leaf out of Everton's latter day Derek Mountfield - Yozzer.

Andy 'Taff' Holden says: "It's a massive thing and I keep saying to the seniors, the likes of Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo, that they have got to chip in now and again as well. In our day you had to score seven or eight goals a season as a centre half and that is dying out. It should be brought back because centre halves are a big asset and they need to score goals." (07/12/06)

Exceptional

Reserve Team Boss Andy Holden is heaping big praise on Reserve Skipper Mark Hughes for his all round attitude. Yozzer who this season has made two appearances for the big boys, both in the Carling Cup is making a few people sit up with his performances, and big things are expected from the youngster from Kirkby. Mark scored again in last night Reserves draw with Man City, and his Boss thought his performance was exceptional. High praise indeed.

Andy Holden says: "I thought Mark Hughes was exceptional on the night, not just because of his goal. He just epitomises everything about Everton Football Club. He is a great lad, trains to the best of his ability and at the moment he is getting his rewards from it." (01/11/06)

Kirkby Buck

We thought that his Dad would calm down now that he was getting a game, but it's making him worse. He is booting everyone all over the place when he plays for the Valley Over The Hill Mob.

Yozzer done the business when he came for the injured Davie Weir on Tuesday night against Luton. We thought he was brilliant and so did Stubbsey.

Stubbsey says:"I was chuffed to bits for Hughesy. He is a Kirkby lad like myself and it was good for two Kirkby lads to be playing in the heart of the defence. "It was good for him to be making his home debut and hopefully it is the first of many for him. He should be happy with his performance because he came on and did everything that was asked of him. When he needed to clear it he did that and when he had time to play he did." (26/08/06)

Yozzer's Pride

Mark Hughes was delighted to keep the reserves captaincy in Tuesday night draw against Sheffield United, even with the likes of Davey Weir, Andy Van and Faddy in the side. To cap it all for Yozzer he scored for the Blues, and it rounded off an amazing few weeks for the highly regarded prospect after making his first team debut in the League Cup win at Peterboro.

Mark says: " That was good for me because I enjoy being skipper and keeping the lads going and I've been captain for a while now. Whoever is next to me is the same, the older professionals always talk to me through the games. When Jack Rodwell came on against Sheffield United it was role reversal because it was me talking to him and passing on bits that I'd picked up.

It's nice to get a goal and Tuesday's came from a great cross from Andy that left me with little to do. That's my job. The strikers score the goals and I get paid to defend, which is what I love doing." (06/10/06)

Debut For Yozzer

Yozzer's Dad, Tommy will be expecting a few free pints this week as he will be watching his cash, as he now has a £200 phone bill to pay. He was letting the whole world and his mate know his son was playing for Everton. Mark along with Victor Anichebe took his chance with both hands against Peterboro, when established stars like Wright and Van der Meyde didn't. Lee Carsley and Alan Irvine were thrilled with the youngsters debut. Tommy was last seen with about a 100 copies of the Echo giving them out to passers by, pointing out that his son was voted man of the match. Well done Yozzer. Tommy will you still talk to us?

Lee says: "They were both absolutely unbelievable. They have both been doing well in training and when the gaffer picked the team, he told them that their performances in training were being rewarded. It's fantastic for them. They didn't let anyone down. Yozzer has got to take this opportunity and learn from the likes of Alan Stubbs and Davie Weir because there are no better centre-halves on their day than those two."

Alan Irvine says: "The seven changes, with the exception of Mark Hughes, were all players who have played in the first-team already. Mark Hughes got his chance because David Weir, Joseph Yobo and Alan Stubbs are all injured. Mark had to stand up to a lot of challenges but did very well. We have got high hopes for him."

Yozzer says: "I found out in the morning. We had training at half-past ten in the morning and Gaz Naysmith suggested to me that I may get a game because Davie Weir was struggling with his back. Then the manager called me to one side and told me I would be playing.

As soon as I had phoned my dad I think everyone in Kirkby knew within a matter of minutes! I enjoyed it and it was good playing next to Joleon. He was superb and he kept talking to me all through the game, as did Nuno and Phil. Benjamin likes it into his left foot all the time and I knew that if I got too close to him he would spin me so I dropped off a bit and threw myself at the ball when he tried to shoot." (20/09/06)

Another Year

Everton's reserve team captain has signed a new one year deal, despite having offers from other clubs. The 19 year old scouser wants a chance in the first team and is looking at Victor Anichebe, John Ruddy and James Vaughan who have had chances and wants one himself.

Yosser says: "I am happy to sign the deal. This year has all been about trying to get a contract for next year and it has been pretty successful really. Hopefully next year we will be here again doing the same thing. Taff(Andy Holden) has been good all year. Because he was a centre-half he tells me after every game what I have done right and what I have done wrong and in training he works hard with me. He focuses on my weaknesses and I have got better on them over they year.

Victor, Vaughany and big John have all had a taste of it this year so maybe I will get a chance next year. Because the first team squad is relatively small we all get a chance to play in the reserves and it is a good standard so you learn every week. I enjoy being skipper. Especially this year, it has been good because there have been a lot of younger lads so I have been an oldie there! I have enjoyed it because they are all coming on again and that is nice to see. We did pretty well this year when you consider our average age was probably about 17 every week.

My game has come on this year training with the first team everyday. When we first went to Austria last year it was 100mph but you just get used to it and I have got quicker during the year. You have to think and move faster because they are firing balls into you and you have to decide where you are going to pass it before you even get the ball. It is different, but it is a good difference and you learn a lot. Training with players like Alan Stubbs and David Weir know the score I don't want to say how old they are because they have been around for a while now! But they have a word with you as well and whatever they say is worth listening to. Next year I want to step it up, keep doing well for the reserves and if I get a chance then hopefully I can take it." (27/05/06)

Mark Hughes Last Season         Everton 1st Team Squad 2006/07

EXCLUSIVE Interview With Mark Hughes