Senderos eyes opportunity to prove his worth under Moyes

(GETTY IMAGES)

Everton's on-loan defender Philippe Senderos accepts his Arsenal career is over but hopes he can impress new manager David Moyes enough over the coming months to start afresh on Merseyside.

The 24-year-old, out of contract in the summer, completed his temporary move to the Toffees on Monday having fallen so far out of favour with the Gunners he played just two Carling Cup ties for them in the last two seasons.

He was loaned out to Milan for the entire 2008-09 campaign but on his return featured only in the second-string sides which beat West Bromwich and Liverpool. Having failed to secure a permanent move to Everton last summer the Swiss international is determined to seize his second chance. "I'm out of contract in the summer so going back to Arsenal I don't think is an option," he said. "But staying here for longer, why not? If things go well you never know."

Senderos admits he found it difficult when he was sidelined by Arsène Wenger but stressed he did not have a problem with the Gunners manager and was just looking forward to playing again. "He picked me from when I was an 18-year-old in Switzerland and I played over 100 games for Arsenal so I owe him a lot for the trust he put in me," he added. "It has been tough but it is a situation you have to accept as a player. I try not to look back too much but it has not been easy as I was fit but I didn't get my chance.

"I knew Everton were interested in the summer and wanted to join them but it didn't go through. Hopefully I can play a few games in a row and get back to my level. It is definitely a very good move for me and I'm happy to be here and be able to prove myself. I know Everton have a great manager in David Moyes and I am really happy to be playing under him and hopefully he will help me develop as a player."

Moyes needs cover at the back as Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo, playing in the Africa Nations Cup, has a hamstring problem, Phil Jagielka is still working his way back to fitness from a serious knee injury and Johnny Heitinga is ineligible for their Europa League campaign. With Senderos available on loan it was a relatively easy decision for Moyes, who has a tight budget.

However, he did admit he had to weigh up whether it was a good move to sign a player who had spent so long out of contention at Arsenal.

"You have to wonder why but also you think, if he was playing in the first team you wouldn't get him in," said Moyes. "Maybe if we had a big budget we would have signed someone who could have gone straight into the team but Philippe was as good as we were going to get. It is a bit of a low-risk move. If it came off I think it would be a terrific signing but if it doesn't we have taken in some cover and Philippe understands that. He comes here with a clean slate. Maybe he has something to prove so we could give him the opportunity to do that.

"Philippe gives us a bit of Premier League experience and he is hungry as he wants to go to the World Cup with Switzerland."

Senderos will be in the squad for tonight's visit of Sunderland as Moyes urges his side – unbeaten in seven Premier League matches – to forget Saturday's FA Cup exit to Birmingham. "We have to try to put it away and say it was 45 minutes which no one expected or saw coming," said the Toffees boss. "I don't see this as a good run as your job is to win every week."