David Moyes singles out Everton star for tough love as exit talk swirls

David Moyes is deploying some stern tactics with Beto in a bid to enhance the Everton striker's performance. The Toffees manager maintains confidence in the Guinea-Bissau frontman alongside summer acquisition Thierno Barry.

Beto, 27, has managed merely 16 strikes in 74 outings during his Goodison Park tenure whilst Barry remains without a goal following his £27m switch from Villarreal. However, Moyes has thrown his weight behind Beto and has been demanding more from him during training sessions.

"We're needing our number nines to be the ones who do it," declared the Scotsman.

"Beto ended up with eight goals [in the Premier League] last year. For probably only playing half the season, it was a brilliant record.

"I have been challenging him a little bit to sort of push him. People think I don't want him, it's not, it's really to try and prod him a wee bit to see if I can get goals.

"Let me tell you, he is an unbelievable lad. [He is great] in training, he is very humble, self-effacing, he's happy to laugh at himself, but to try and make himself better.

"So for all those reasons we think so much of him because in what he's doing he's actually accepting that 'I have to get better'.

"And let's be fair, probably from where he started he has got unbelievably better from where he was.

"But I wanted him to get in a run in the pre-season games of getting two goals in one game, two in another game, where he was in the mood and that's where I was trying to have a little bit of a dig - to see if I could get him to get some goals.

"But I have to say, Barry's involvement in the first game against Brighton, he did a couple of brilliant things for the goals, he really did. There's a bit of competition between them now to see who's going to sort of get it."

Everton are set to face Wolves on Saturday, hoping to build on their recent victories over Brighton and League One Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup.

Harrison Armstrong, who impressed with two assists in the midweek match, has attracted loan interest from Preston among others.

However, Moyes is holding off on any decisions until they secure another player for his position.

He explained: "I think a lot depends if we maybe get a more experienced midfield player in.

"It's very difficult now, is it better if he comes [with us] and he sits on the bench and gets little bits of moments, trains with us every day, or is it better that he goes and plays maybe 20 games in the Championship?"That's really the decision we feel as if we've got to take."