EVERTON boss David Moyes reckons the return of Steven Pienaar has been the key to his side’s revival.

After initially coming back to Goodison Park on loan last season, the South African was the Blues’ number one transfer target this summer – eventually re-signing for the club in a £4.5million deal.

Marouane Fellaini has grabbed the early season headlines for the Toffees with his winner against Manchester United and he was on target again against Villa after Shay Given’s blunder.

But Moyes points to the return to Goodison Park of midfielder Steven Pienaar from Tottenham as a crucial factor.

He said: “Getting Steven back was massive with the way he had played for us at the end of last season when on loan.

“He was the key to a lot of the things we did, the players enjoyed playing with him.

“It would be difficult to single any of them out after the way we play against Villa when we had some outstanding performances.

“But his general play was excellent throughout the game. Some of his work was really, really good.”

Moyes is keeping Everton’s start in perspective as they have often struggled at the beginning of campaigns in recent seasons.

He said: “When I got the fixtures, home to Manchester Utd and away to Villa, I thought it was a real tough start.

“The fixtures can sometimes dictate how you start but thankfully we’ve had a couple of really good wins.

“It’s been a good start but you don’t get carried away.”

Moyes believes Paul Lambert has “a big job on his hands” to revive Aston Villa and insists he needs time to turn around their fortunes.

The Scot saw his side triumph 3-1 at Villa Park to maintain their 100% winning start to the campaign thanks to goals from Pienaar, Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic.

It was not what Lambert would have wanted in his first home game in charge and Moyes called for patience and understanding while his fellow Scot makes his mark.

He said: “It is going to be very hard. Paul is a young manager who has come to a big club and it is a bit like myself when I took over at Everton.

“You are not going to turn things around right away. It is going to take time. Paul has got a big job on his hands, which I’m sure he knows.

“No-one can come into any job, and especially one as big as this, and expect it to be correct right away.

“But the supporters were right behind him and were with the team.

“Probably the downside for Paul is he met a hot Everton team and that was probably a hard thing to take in your first game.

“We knew the crowd would be behind them and it would help if we could calm it down a bit and the first goal did that.”

Meanwhile, Lambert is under no illusions as to the size of the task ahead and will hold talks with owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner before the transfer window closes.

On this evidence Lerner needs to open his cheque book and give greater financial backing to Lambert than has been evident so far this summer.

Lambert said: “It’s massive, it’s a massive job, it’s a great challenge and something we will try and turn around. Everton are a top side and, if you are not right on your money, then that is what can happen to you.

“It is important the players don’t lose confidence.

“You can’t dwell on a defeat too much, let it prey on your mind.

“Do we need more players? Randy, myself and Paul will sit and see what’s going to happen. We will see.”