David Moyes provides Everton vs West Ham injury news and issues Graham Potter verdict
David Moyes has been complimentary of West Ham boss Graham Potter.
Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking ahead of facing his old club West Ham on Monday night. Moyes has done fine work at Everton, as he so often does, with the Toffees currently in 10th place after five games, picking up two wins and a draw within their first five games.
Meanwhile, the club he left behind in West Ham have struggled mightily since the Scot left the club, with successor Julen Lopetegui lasting just months, while Graham Potter is on a similar trajectory.
West Ham have lost five of their first six games across all competitions, and Potter is under serious pressure heading into this game, especially with Arsenal to come in the following game. There is real doubt over whether Potter will still be in place come the end of next week, but Moyes is more optimistic about his opposite number’s chances.
"Graham Potter's an excellent manager,” he said. His record at Brighton, and getting the Chelsea job. You don't get those jobs without a certain quality of management. He's probably finding it quite difficult at the moment, but overall, he's an excellent manager and I have no doubt he'll be a success."
Asked about facing his old club, Moyes added: “It's great to see them all. I had a big relationship with so many of the players and staff, and everybody at the club. It was good. We had some great times together. They were really good people to work for."
Moyes on the West Ham clash
Speaking about the game more specifically, Moyes provided a team news update, with Jarrad Branthwaite remaining out for this one. He said: “(He’s recovering) Fine. He'll not be available for Monday, neither is Merlin (Rohl). Both of them are out."
Asked whether Branthwaite is back in full training, he confirmed: “Not at the moment. We're expecting him back shortly but not yet."
Everton will be looking to continue a fine start at their new stadium against a struggling West Ham side. “We're really pleased with the way we've started the season,” Moyes continued. “We've done a lot of good things, so we hope we can continue it. We've had good results at the new stadium too, so let's hope we can keep that going."
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