Everton boss Marco Silva says Morgan Schneiderlin deserved his place for their win at Cardiff City.

Silva has revealed that £20m man Schneiderlin has been knocking on the door for a recall for some time and after impressing at Finch Farm during Everton 's enforced break, he handed him his chance.

"To me, he never said he wanted to leave," Silva said.

"All of the players want to play more. Morgan started the season well but he had a difficult moment in his personal life and Andre, Gana and Gylfi played most of the time and were doing really well. Tom came in and did well and it is not easy because we have competition between them.

"But Morgan never gives up. Of course, in some moments he has not been happy or with the same confidence but in the last month he was doing well and showing to me he deserved the chance and so I gave it to him."