Moyes set to step up on Vaughan

Oct 11 2006

By Dominic King, Liverpool Echo

DAVID MOYES is ready to crank James Vaughan’s fitness programme up another level after Everton’s youngest goalscorer passed his latest examination with flying colours.   The 18-year-old has not played a first team game for the Blues since August 27, 2005 and has spent much of the time since under the knife trying to overcome a serious knee injury.   Given that he kept breaking down in training towards the end of last season, Moyes and his staff had understandably chosen to take a ‘softly-softly’ approach as Vaughan began another rehabilitation programme in the summer.   But that could now be about to change after Vaughan scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Liverpool’s Reserves in Widnes last night, playing 90 minutes.   "James has got a long way to go as he has been out for a year but he will enjoy the goal and quite right because he deserved it," said Moyes. "It will do his confidence the world of good.   "He has only been back in training a couple of weeks and things have been stop-start for him because he also had an operation on his hand, so now we need to get as much work into him as we possibly can.   "He would have been playing by now and would have been in the first team squad. We know he has a talent and the hard thing for him has been missing a crucial year of his development.   "He has missed playing against experienced pros and missed a year training with the first team but we will do our best to get that back once we can get him back towards full fitness."   Moyes was equally pleased to see Tony Hibbert, whose campaign has so far been severely disrupted by illness and suspension, get a much-needed game under his belt.   With Tim Cahill in Australia and unlikely to arrive back in Liverpool until late on Thursday after a gruelling round-the-world flight, Moyes could change things at Middlesbrough on Saturday and Hibbert’s return gives him scope to do that.   "Hibbo needed the match practice," said Moyes, who refused to comment on Simon Davies’ remarks that he may have to look for another club in January. "It has been stop-start for him but we were pleased he got a game. He needed that workout.   "He has always been in my thoughts. Provided he comes through everything without any reaction, we’ll consider him for Middlesbrough." Everton Res 2, Liverpool Res 1 - match report here