Moyes offers Saha incentive

Louis Saha: Everton striker has been challenged to improve in the second half of the season

David Moyes is in no rush to make a decision on a new contract for Louis Saha, but expects the Everton striker to put in an improved showing in the second half of the season.

Saha, who joined the Toffees in 2008, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and has scored just twice in 14 appearances this term.

The 33-year-old is the only senior striker on Everton's books and Moyes expects the Frenchman to improve in the hope of either earning a new deal at Goodison Park or impressing another club.

"At the turn of the year Louis had a good run, where he scored a few goals," said the Everton manager.

"His game is not all about goals though, he is someone who can link play up as well, that has always been his game. So we wouldn't necessarily judge him on his goals alone.

Open minded

"But he is in the last year of his contract, and that is something we will look at further down the line.

"We tend to wait, with respect to the older boys, until later on before we offer contracts. We don't throw contracts at people just because of their age.

"But the boys know how it works. If people perform, the chairman always rewards them here.

"I do expect Louis to do it in the second half of the season, if not for us, to prove himself to someone else.

"I have always thought that players play better in the last year of their contract, because they are either proving it to their current employers or to any new suitors. That's how I have seen it in my time.

"I am open minded on his future. We will not say too much about it now, and to be honest I have not given it an awful lot of thought.

"There is an incentive there, but there is an incentive for anybody. It is up to Louis to show he is up to it."