GIVE ME A GAME

Last updated : 08 August 2005 By Editor

Phillip Neville talks about playing regularly, his decision to leave and settling down again.

"Gary is pleased for me.

"Next Saturday, though, will be difficult for me and all the family, but he is excited for me as well.

"He knows I wanted to play more football. We are a family that backs each other up and he supports me in every way and I will support him in every way."

"The family left the decision totally up to me and obviously my wife, and this was the best footballing decision I could have made.

" I don't think I have been as excited about doing something in my life as I was when I signed the Everton contract.

"The decision about which club, or even to leave Manchester United, was totally left down to me.

"Because of the way the family is, and the way all my friends are United fans nobody wanted to influence my decision in any way.

"It will be the first time I have been in a team without my brother. It was hard to leave United but it is going to be strange to play without my brother for the first time in my career.

"It is something I have got to live with. I have to make new friends here at Everton, but obviously my brother is there for life."

"The prospect of playing more regularly and that is something the manager stressed to me, but I am under no illusions.

"This team finished fourth last season and I have got to fight my way into it. It won't be a walkover to be playing every week.

"I am not a big-time Charlie, I have the same work ethic as the rest of the players here. This club has been built in recent times on that and I hope I can fit into that type of pattern.

"I hope to see out my career at Everton. Loyalty has been a big thing in my life, and continuity, and I would not like to go through another transfer."