David Moyes admits to Denis Stracqualursi gamble
Last updated on .From the section Football
Everton boss David Moyes is hopeful new signing Denis Stracqualursi will prove to be a gamble worth taking.
The forward, last season's top scorer in Argentina, is one of only two fit recognised strikers available after the exits of Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford.
Moyes said the 23-year-old Argentine, a last-minute signing on loan from the Tigre club, "looks like he can finish".
"He has a good goalscoring record in Argentina but I'm not sure yet, we'll find out in time," added Moyes.
"We had Stracqualursi watched in Argentina last year and he was valued a lot more than we got him for - we took him for nothing.
"There weren't an awful lot of centre-forwards out there we could get and he became available to us at the last minute.
"In the end it was nearly worth the gamble to see how he does. We've done it before with loan signings; some have worked and some haven't."
Moyes is looking to midfielder Tim Cahill to supplement his strikeforce in the coming weeks with Victor Anichebe sidelined for two months with an ankle injury.
"I do expect to play Cahill up front," said Moyes, who is preparing his side for Saturday's visit of Aston Villa.
"He played up front against QPR so we will use him there.
"We have more options in midfield with the likes of Ross Barkley, Jack Rodwell, Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman, John Heitinga and Phil Neville.
"Where we don't have a lot of options is at centre-forward."
Another new signing, Royston Drenthe, is also in the squad for the clash against Villa, with both new boys expected to start from the substitutes bench.
