Unsworth: One game at time with Toffees

David Unsworth has emphasised he does not need a timeframe to be put on his stint as Everton’s caretaker manager.

Tonight’s Europa League home match against Atalanta will be the Toffees’ sixth game since Unsworth was placed in temporary charge following Ronald Koeman’s sacking on October 23.

It emerged last week that Everton had had overtures for Watford boss Marco Silva rejected.

And when asked if he was aware of any update with regard to the managerial situation, Unsworth – who has expressed his desire to have the job permanently – said: “No, no change that I’ve been told.

“We just continue to the next game and we do that as passionately as we have done from the start.”

Unsworth was then asked if he needed a timeframe put on how long the current arrangement would last.

And he said: “No I don’t. Everything I do from when I get up in the morning to when I go to bed at night is about Everton.”

Unsworth, who stepped up from the under-23s after Koeman was sacked and has so far overseen three losses, followed by a win and then a draw, added that he had been involved in discussions regarding January recruitment.

“Conversations have already taken place as regards to areas we need improving, or recruitment in January, and they will continue to be had,” he said.

“In all aspects of the job, I am in communication with every department.

With two Group E games to go, rockbottom Everton have already crashed out of the Europa League, but Unsworth has vowed to select a “strong” side for tonight’s contest.

He said: “We are going to pick a team to win, a strong team that we we feel is the right one. We will be respectful, to our fans. We put on the Everton shirt and we’re fully respectful of that.”