Gosling is getting close to making his Everton debut

Former Plymouth Argyle teenager Dan Gosling is close to making his first appearance in the Premier League.

The versatile 18-year-old, who signed for the Toffees for �1.5m in January, has been sidelined since last month with a cartilage tear.

But manager David Moyes told the Everton club website that he is close to making his debut for the first team.

"If he hadn't been injured, he would have been close to being in the squad by now," Moyes said.

""If I had to put him in the side, I would. At the moment, we are quite short, so he could find himself very close to the squad. Jack (Rodwell) has been involved already and Dan would have been, too, had he been fit," he added.

Brixham-born Gosling, who can play in defence or midfield, made his debut for Argyle as a 16-year-old and was a product of the club's youth academy.

He made 34 appearances for Argyle and signed a new three-year contract last September before leaving for Everton.

He was also part of the England Under-17's side which played in the Under 17's World Cup in Korea last summer.