Everton will be hoping to continue their fine form in the Premier League with victory against Leicester City on Saturday.
With all the focus on the transfer front at Everton, fans may be forgetting arguably the biggest game of their season is waiting for the Toffees on Saturday.
David Moyes’ side face Leicester in what could decide a lot in terms of the relegation spots in the Premier League.
Moyes will be without Orel Mangala who suffered serious knee ligament damage which could provide a big blow to Everton’s strong form.
Foxes boss, Ruud van Nistelrooy has looked ahead to what is a decisive encounter in the top flight this weekend.
Ruud van Nistelrooy on Everton fans after time at Man United
Everton supporters will be counting down the games before their final game at Goodison Park as the inevitable is on the horizon with just eight Premier League home games left.
Gerard Deulofeu plans for a Goodison return against Liverpool as the former Everton star will see his past home ground for the last time.
On Saturday, it will also be the last time for van Nistelrooy as he knows what to expect from the Toffees fans having played there for Manchester United.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, van Nistelrooy said: “I know what it’s like to play there (Goodison Park), but I also know that every away game in the Premier League the home fans are going to be a factor.
“We know what Everton are capable of, under David Moyes, they’ve had a good couple of results and have built momentum.”
Everton player said van Nistelrooy was ‘brilliant for me’
Of course, the now Leicester boss took on the reigns at United on an interim basis, which could have lead him to join Everton.
The Friedkin Group have supported Moyes well so far and the Scotsman always seemed like the likely option to takeover Dyche, but the Dutchman could’ve been in line as well.
Many tipped van Nistelrooy for the move to Everton with Dyche on the brink, as the Foxes boss knew a certain Toffees player well from a previous venture.
When in charge of PSV, van Nistelrooy helped Jarrad Branthwaite’s development in Holland, which has proved detrimental to how he plays now for Everton.
Speaking to The Times, Branthwaite said: “He was brilliant for me, he would speak to me about my body shape when defending and the importance of being side-on, so that I am always ready to run back or be ready to press forward.
“He said if you don’t have the right body shape, you will get done because the Premier League is much faster. If they play it in behind and you are not side-on, the striker will already be gone.”
With United stopping their interest in Branthwaite, the defender can continue on with van Nistelrooy’s wisdom at Everton.
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