Moyes faces mammoth Everton task

The second David Moyes era at Everton gets under way when they face Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Wednesday night - and he faces a mammoth task to revive this fallen giant of English football.

Moyes has made a good impression on his return with ambitious talk about the brighter future and "elite" signings under new American owners, The Friedkin Group.

All this will have to wait, however, following the sacking of Sean Dyche with Everton standing one point off the relegation places, just as they did when Moyes started his first spell in March 2002.

Understandably, Moyes has made Premier League safety his priority but he must find a way to somehow revitalise a struggling side that has only three wins and 15 goals from 19 games.

Fan reaction to Moyes' return has not been unanimously in favour, some regarding it as a retrograde step and an ultra-safe appointment, but many more accept this may just be exactly what Everton need in their current predicament.

Dropping out of the Premier League is close to unthinkable with Everton moving into a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock for the start of next season.

Moyes is vastly experienced, comes after being successful from West Ham United and is finely attuned to the very least of what Everton supporters expect.

He will not have too many concerns about Everton at the back, with an outstanding goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford and two solid central defenders in James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.

The very obvious problem is further forward, where he must somehow get main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing again.

Moyes has also made the very pertinent point that players who have seen off previous Everton managers on a regular basis must actually now take responsibility themselves, starting against Villa.

The 61-year-old Scot is fully aware of Everton's problems - how quickly he can fix them will shape their immediate future.