Ainsley Maitland-Niles beamed at the interviewer. "It's contagious, playing for Everton, and it always will be". Talk about a new signing who gets it from the start. The 29-year-old has already written a line into Everton folklore, his last-gasp goal salvaging a point against Manchester United on Sunday.

David Moyes will be under no illusions that his Toffees team are beset with any number of problems, the summer transfer window wrapping up with Everton in a weaker position than when they entered after the 2025/26 season finished - in desperate need of reinforcements after a seven-game winless run in the Premier League.

That poor end-of-year form pulled the Merseysiders away from their dream of qualifying for the Champions League, instead dumping them in 12th place, almost mirroring their finish from the previous term.

It was a spirited display against the Red Devils, but lacking in parts with the kind of quality and cutting edge in attack that Moyes will be hoping for. Sadly, it doesn't look like Brennan Johnson will be offering the solution.

How Moyes can get the most out of Johnson

When Johnson scored the winning goal in the Europa League final for Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the 2024/25 season, he must have felt on top of the world - but the following period of football has been unkind to the Wales international, who then fell by the wayside at Spurs and never got going at Crystal Palace, joining the Eagles in January.

Now, Johnson is struggling to reclaim the patterns which allowed him to score consistently, failing to convert one of his trademark back-post finishes against Michael Carrick's United on Sunday, mistiming and failing to make contact.

Johnson has fundamental problems in regard to his build-up play and quality as a progressor, both creatively and a runner. To maximise his output, you need to get him into promising positions, allowing him to arc inwards from the right flank.

But his performance against United did stink of an out-of-form player who has not yet reclaimed his confidence, and Moyes may now want to consider an alternative option on the right wing.

Options are in short supply at Everton, but there is one player who could step in for the 25-year-old.

It was Jack Grealish who replaced Johnson after the hour mark at the weekend, but Moyes actually has a younger version of Grealish who is more naturally disposed down the right channel.

Everton must unleash their new version of Jack Grealish

Everton sold Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City this summer, but Moyes and the Everton persuasion will take solace in pulling off another loan deal for Grealish, who will take on a leadership role with the Toffees this season, both as a focal playmaker and a senior star.

There's no question that it was a tough debut season for Tyler Dibling on Merseyside, joining Everton from relegated Southampton for £40m one year ago. He was a shining light with the Saints, but struggled to win Moyes over last year, only playing 14 times in the Premier League, starting four of those games.

But there's no question that this is a "world-class talent", as he has been named in the past by former youth coach Andy Goldie, with peerless close control and a swagger on the ball that is certainly Grealish-esque.

It has already been noted that Grealish is a superstar from whom he should mould his game, absorbing the fruits of the 30-year-old's labour.

Now, Dibling needs consistency, and with Johnson flattering to deceive, surely it would be a good idea to hand the 20-year-old a run of starts in the Premier League. Johnson's creative output is negligible, and Dibling could better service Thierno Barry at No. 9 and create a more fluent attacking system at the Hill Dickinson.

He proved at Southampton that he has the ability to be something special, and partnering Grealish down the Everton flanks over the coming weeks could be the perfect tonic for an Everton side who are light on their feet, crying out for some inspiration.

Time and time again, Everton have shown that they just don't know how to surrender. It's a blessing and a curse, but right now, Moyes' side need all the dogged determination they can muster.