Everton may leave out misfiring Nikica Jelavic for Bolton FA Cup tie

Bolton Wanderers vs. Everton

FA Cup - 3 months ago

Everton may leave out misfiring Nikica Jelavic for Bolton FA Cup tie

• David Moyes considers resting his No1 striker
• 'He could benefit from time out … he's not quite fired'

by Andy Hunter 3 months ago

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David Moyes has said he is torn over whether to rest Nikica Jelavic or give the out-of-form Everton striker another opportunity to "change his world" at Bolton Wanderers.

The Croatia international has this season shown only sporadic glimpses of the devastating form that produced 11 goals in 16 appearances for Everton following his £5.5m arrival from Rangers last January. A glaring miss in Monday's goalless draw at Southampton encapsulated Jelavic's change in fortune and Moyes, who reaches his 500th game in charge of Everton at the Reebok Stadium, is considering starting the fourth-round tie without the 27-year-old.

"He could benefit from some time out but I also think a couple of goals might change his world," the Everton manager said. "It's about getting that balance right and I'll look at it against Bolton. He's not quite fired and the chance he got at Southampton he would have stuck away when he first came in. At the moment those chances are affecting us getting the wins.

"In the last week or two we've started to get a few more players back, which helps me and means I can try something else, but he is our main striker and I want to give him every opportunity to be the main striker. I'll look to do the right thing for him."

Moyes believes the return from injury of Kevin Mirallas could help Jelavic, although the Belgium international is not ready to play 90 minutes after several months out with a hamstring problem. He explained: "There has been a lot of attention on Jelavic and, when Kevin comes in, it will take some of the focus away from him. Kevin creates a lot more trouble, which leaves more space and there will be more balls in the box where Jelavic can get opportunities. Hopefully he lives up to that."