David Moyes challenges Everton hat-trick hero Thierno Barry to improve further

Everton manager David Moyes has challenged Thierno Barry to become more clinical after the striker scored a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup win at Preston North End.

Barry was the outstanding player at Deepdale as Everton secured a comfortable victory and progressed to a third-round home tie against Wolves. His performance continued the impressive form he showed during pre-season and in Everton’s opening Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, when he also scored.

The 23-year-old has now found the net four times in his first two appearances of the new campaign. However, Moyes believes Barry could have added to his tally after missing further opportunities against Preston.

Moyes said the forward had worked on his mentality during the summer, an adjustment the Everton manager feels has contributed to his improved performances.

“He said he was working with somebody in the summer back home who tried to change his mindset a little bit,” Moyes said.

“I think that’s something he found really difficult last year, which it can be for a lot of boys coming in for their first year from overseas.

“I think it’s even worse for a centre-forward because you’ve got a lot of big decisions to make.”

Although Moyes welcomed Barry’s three goals, he was disappointed that the striker did not convert the other chances that came his way.

“Generally he’s been much better since he came back,” Moyes said.

“I still think I’d like more. If you think of the one or two opportunities he had and he didn’t score, I’m nearly annoyed that he didn’t do those ones as well.

“I know he got three goals, but he had a couple really laid on his plate – I want him to score the other ones as well.”

Barry was not the only Everton player to make an impression. Brennan Johnson scored his first goal for the club as Moyes’ side produced a convincing display to book their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup.

Moyes was satisfied with the overall performance and praised the quality of Everton’s play, but felt his side could have created more chances, particularly before half-time.

“I was most pleased with the goals, probably, in the end,” he said.

“I thought we played well. I thought we had some good moments, some good football.

“We probably didn’t, at the end of it, create enough, especially in the first half I thought, but generally, I thought we did pretty well with the ball tonight.”

Everton will now switch their focus back to the Premier League. Their next fixture is away to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

The match will give Barry another opportunity to build on his strong start to the campaign, while Moyes will expect the forward to maintain his scoring form and take a greater proportion of the chances he creates.