Neville absence is a blow - boss

Everton boss David Moyes has admitted that losing skipper Phil Neville for another two weeks is a bitter blow to the club.

There had been a hope that Neville would be able to return this weekend against Liverpool, but it was revealed yesterday that he has undergone a further small knee operation on his knee and he will be out for another two to three weeks.

Moyes told the Post: "I'm disappointed because Phil is one of the players we knew was closest to coming back to helping us.

"We have a European game next week and a really tough period and we probably don't have too many people due back in the near future.

"The tackle Phil had against Fulham did not require surgery. A scan showed there was a little bit of damage to his cartilage and he had micro-tears but the surgeon didn't operate at the time as he thought it would heal by itself.

"Phil trained all last week with the players and has been good. He was close to playing against Manchester United and I thought he would probably have played somewhere this week.

"But he felt a bit stiff and last Friday they sent him for another scan that showed the micro-tears had become bigger.

"They were going to open him up on Tuesday afternoon to see what they need to do. I have got to the stage where I don't even want to put a time scale on it now."