TOURNAMENT – Barclays Premier League

MATCH – Everton (Away) at Goodison Park

DATE & TIME – 20th April 2014, 15:10 GMT (20:40 IST)

Pre-Match Press Conference Transcript of David Moyes

Q. It is the best away record in the Premier League, David, at the moment. If you can keep that going, does that open up still the possibility of Top 4 this season, given that you’ve got that game in hand over Arsenal as well?

Moyes: Well, we’ve said that we’ll never give anything, we won’t until we simply can’t do it. But, obviously, it’s nearly a mathematical impossibility – but we’ll keep trying to make it happen if we can. It’s a tough game going to Goodison for any team at any time, as I should well know. But we’ll go there with a good away record this season, and we’ll try and make it work again.

Q. And how’s Wayne Rooney?

Moyes: Wayne Rooney’s trained great this week. He’s been in really good form. Getting him back, I think is a good thing. He just wasn’t quite right in the last game with his toe at times. But he’s training great this week.

Q. How are the other lads looking as well – Robin and Rafael and Jonny?

Moyes: Well, Robin’s in Holland and Robin’s making improvements. We always thought he would be four to six weeks. We’ll get a better assessment over the next week or so to see exactly where we think he is and how he’s coming on. Our medical team’s heading out there to see him this week and we’ll get a better feel for exactly where he is. Felli didn’t play in Munich, but we expect Felli to be back fit. He’s trained all week. So hopefully, Jonny Evans is making progress as well. Only Rafa’s the one player who’s not available.

Q. And clean sheets as well, away from home. I think it is 488 minutes without conceding, that’s some record isn’t it?

Moyes: Hmm, very good. I didn’t know that myself (laughter). We’ve had some really good moments at times with some of the results but then, obviously, other times we’ve not. So we have to try and keep that going, and it’ll be well tested because we go to a side that’s in good form this year and we’re going to have to play very well.

Q. It seems that speculations have kicked off already with regards to the summer. I’m not going to go into individuals, but I just wonder how far you get into planning for next season at this stage?

Moyes: Well, I’ve got to say I’m well into my planning. I’m well into my thoughts and my ideas already for next season. Not everything you read about in the papers is correct, I’ve got to say that because we’ve been linked with player after player. And every time I go to a game, it seems that I’m signing three or four players in that game. So that isn’t the case. But everybody’s well aware that we’re looking to make some signings and we’ll try and do that whenever that opportunity arises. It’ll probably be after the end of the season before anything really takes place but we have to look to try and do one or two things.

Q. More imperative just given the World Cup as well?

Moyes: Well, I think it will be difficult. Players will be going away to the World Cup, and maybe its not quite so easy. But, I think ideally most clubs would always like to get their work done early. It doesn’t always happen that way, there’s no guarantee ours will, but we’ll do what we can to try and make that happen.

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