Everton owe David Moyes after a dispiriting defeat by Aston Villa – his return highlighted how far the membership has fallen and this toothless group NEED reinforcements in January, writes DOMINIC KING

Perhaps the first thing the new manager should be looking to change on his return to Everton is his surname: doesn’t David Moyes need to be David Copperfield?

Plenty were hoping chapter two of this particular relationship would begin as the first did in March 2002 and, on this emotional night, there were some nods to the past: Moyes, for instance, went out to oversee the warm-up, as he did against Fulham 23 years ago.

He had the Midas touch immediately, David Unsworth scoring after 27 seconds and lighting the fuse on a reign that would last 518 matches. Moyes had great support that day, his team picked by the respected old club stalwart Andy Holden, and fans who were immediately on board.

The warm-up aside, though, this was a very different occasion, tense and full of realism. Yes, the ovation he received when moving onto the pitch before kick-off was generous and respectful, his name greeted with cheers from all sides of the stadium, but that was where the similarities ended.

Once kick-off began, Moyes must have felt like a parent who had been handed the bill on a maxed-out credit card and asked to clear it before the next statement arrived. This Everton squad is horribly short of quality and only a magician could have changed things in two training sessions.

Moyes would have been apprehensive about this happening. He spent 10 minutes during the warm-up studying Aston Villa’s players, focusing on their passing and movement in a game of four-versus-four from the halfway line. It was quick, it was clever, it was everything Everton haven’t been.

David Moyes cut a frustrated figure as Everton lost 1-0 to Aston Villa on his return

The Toffees were toothless and need signings – Dominic Calvert-Lewis hasn’t scored in 1,212 Premier League minutes

Ollie Watkins’ goal was enough to seal Aston Villa a 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Wednesday

Moyes looked resigned on the touchline after watching a team horribly short of quality

Five minutes in, the Scot was already looking around at Billy McKinlay and Leighton Baines as Jordan Pickford dived full length to deny Morgan Rogers; moments later, he put a hand across his face as a Jarrad Branthwaite mistake enabled Villa to break.

Through the first half, Moyes kept pulling notes out of his smart coat pocket, like a punter studies a racecard hoping to find answers. Much of what he scribbled down, though, he would have known already, particularly how toothless Everton are.

Take Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has now gone 1,212 minutes without a Premier League goal. He had an effort kicked-off the line before half-time, an incident which led Moyes to spin like a top, but there was never any suggestion it was going to go in.

You knew the same was true in injury time, he skied a glorious chance from substitute Jesper Lindstrom’s cross. He should have scored and his new manager, with lips pursed, knew it just as well as he did.

As they chased the game in the second period, as balls were sent long and set pieces were wasted, Moyes prowled and frowned and eventually looked resigned. He will get this team moving, eventually, but he needs help. Everton owe it to him to deliver the signings he needs – and quick.