Why Jack Rodwell's future must be at Everton

He could go to Manchester United or Chelsea and that development would be immediately hindered.

I'm sure at the start of this season David Moyes earmarked Jack for a certain number of games, but instead circumstances have dictated that he has played in almost every game.

That's been invaluable experience - and Jack certainly hasn't been found wanting.

A lot more has been asked of him, but he has produced a lot more.

David Moyes has shown in the past that he is capable of nurturing young talent and bringing the best out of them, but I can see our manager looking after him in the way Fergie looked after his own flock of fledglings when they first came through.

Obvious comparisons will be drawn with the time Wayne Rooney was sold, but in reality the situations are totally different.

Wayne wanted to leave Everton, and even though we didn't think it at the time, the timing was probably right for him, personally, to move on.

He was already an established England international, despite his tender years, he was incredibly mature and felt that he wanted to move on.

Jack clearly wants to stay put.

He will need help as he continues to develop and he will get that at Everton.

He reminds me in some ways of an old fashioned playmaker, but one who likes to get up and down the pitch.

I'd like to see him with Tim Cahill running off him and perhaps Phil Neville doing the tackling alongside him, giving him the time and space to use the ball.

Obviously that will have to wait until the manager has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from, but for the moment Jack's doing fine as he is.

It's been a difficult season for Everton so far, but his performances have been an undoubted high point.

Hopefully he will continue to produce those performances in a Royal Blue jersey for years to come.

Boost for Everton boss David Moyes in international week

INTERNATIONAL weekends are usually a time of torment for club managers.

They sit glued to their TV screens all weekend, praying that their best players aren't suddenly the subject of an injury bulletin on Sky Sports News.

Arsene Wenger received that dreaded news this weekend.

Robin van Persie has been a highly influential player for him this season, but he has been sidelined for weeks now as a result of an international injury.

For David Moyes, however, it's been a productive few days.

Marouane Fellaini and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will both come back to Finch Farm with their confidence soaring after scoring for their respective countries (provided Russia finish the job in Slovenia tomorrow!) while Yakubu and Joseph Yobo will be absolutely bouncing after their dramatic World Cup qualification.

Their confidence will be sky high and the banter will be flying thick and fast with the other lads who are heading for South Africa (provided they both come straight back and don't spend too long celebrating!)

This break has been a good one for the Blues.

Old Trafford no longer has that fear factor

A TRIP to Old Trafford does not hold quite the same fear factor as it might have done in previous seasons.

There was a time when you might have played Manchester United on their own ground planning just to keep the score down.

But Sunderland were very close to getting a win there recently, so Everton must be thinking of going one better.

Don't get me wrong. United are still a very, very good side.

But this season they don't seem to have that ability to totally destroy teams that they used to have.

I always found that a visit to Old Trafford was more inspiring than intimidating. You go into every match fully aware of its importance.

But a trip to Old Trafford would always pluck that extra five per cent out of players, more so than, say, a trip to Blackburn might.

Hopefully that will be the case this weekend and Everton can score a famous victory.