Everton FC

McNeil may need to undergo surgery, admits Moyes

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David Moyes has admitted Dwight McNeil may need to undergo surgery.

The playmaker is yet to feature under the new Everton manager after suffering a knee injury which has sidelined him since the start of December.

McNeil attempted to make tentative steps towards his recovery from the issue at Finch Farm on Friday morning but felt discomfort during the session.

Ahead of the Blues’ trip to Brighton, Moyes conceded that the 25-year-old is set to see a specialist with corrective surgery among his current options.

He said: “It looks like Dwight is probably going to have to have some surgery on his knee.

“Today he’s tried, so it looks like we’re going to have to get him back to the specialist. I’m saying surgery, the specialist might decide something else.

“But he’s going to go back to see the specialist again. It’s a real blow because we need him back for things like deliveries and set-plays but for his general play.

“By all accounts, he’s performed really well and not to have him is a big blow.

“I was only told this about half-an-hour before I came into the press conference. He was out this morning on the grass trying to get going and didn’t feel right.

“They were always saying if he didn’t come through today, we’d take him back to the specialist.

“If you get opened up, I don’t think people come back quicker than four to six weeks if they get opened up.

“My general feeling is that they don’t feel it’s something so bad, it’s not like he has got a cruciate or anything like that. Hopefully, he’ll be OK.”