Everton boss David Moyes has explained withdrawing Ross Barkley from the front line.

Barkley has not featured since the Carling Cup third-round win over West Bromwich Albion on 21 September.

Moyes said: "Ross deserved to start in the team at the start of the season because of his form in pre-season. There's just been a bit of a dip in him which we've seen in training. Anyone who's watched the games will have said that as well.

"We've got to remember this is a 17-year-old boy and we shouldn't be trying to expect too much too soon from him. There are signs that he's beginning to edge towards coming back, I've seen a couple of things in training in the last few days. Hopefully that's the case and he's getting his second wind now."