Mark Armstrong Everton boss David Moyes has assured Norwich City fans that goalkeeper John Ruddy will bounce back from his first-howler in the 4-2 defeat to the Toffees on Saturday.

Mark Armstrong

Everton boss David Moyes has assured Norwich City fans that goalkeeper John Ruddy will bounce back from his first-howler in the 4-2 defeat to the Toffees on Saturday.

The Canaries' shot-stopper, who Moyes allowed to leave Everton for Carrow Road this summer, endured a moment to forget in his young career when he allowed Tim Cahill's powderpuff strike to squirm through his legs and put his former side 1-0 up in the pre-season friendly.

But Moyes, who let Ruddy out on loan to Motherwell last season, insists the 23-year-old has the strength of character to come back from his howler and believes the error may even benefit the youngster in the long term.

“That mistake happens doesn't it and maybe it's better to get it out the way before the season starts,” he said. “It will maybe re-focus John but you ask people about John Ruddy in Scotland and they will tell you arguably he was the best goalkeeper up there last season.

“He will be fine.”

Hat-trick hero Tim Cahill also leapt to the defence of Ruddy, who had not put a foot wrong during pre-season on Saturday, most notably saving a penalty in the 0-0 draw against Stevenage last month.

The Australian international, who was sent off at the World Cup in South Africa for his homeland, believes his former team-mate will go on to be one of the Canaries' star performers in the Championship next season.

“It was just one of those things,” said the former Millwall man. “The thing about Ruddy is a lot of our players know how good he is but that was just unfortunate. It happens in a lot of goalkeepers' careers, but he'll pick himself up. And it's happened in pre-season so it means nothing.

“He's a great goalkeeper and the good thing about him is he's moved on to play football.

“He's a young lad, obviously very strong, a great shot-stopper and he's got all the attributes to be a top goalkeeper.”

Many City fans were worried when the club could not deliver the funds to secure Fraser Forster on another loan deal this season after the Newcastle man starred during Norwich's march to League One glory last season.

City boss Paul Lambert plumped for Ruddy instead and has tipped the St Ives man to continue the Canaries' tradition of nurturing excellent, young goalkeepers.

Ruddy was not at fault for any of the other Everton goals as the Canaries held their own against the Premier League side.

Andrew Crofts, who was on the scoresheet on Saturday, put the mistake down to 'just one of those things'.

“I don't think it affected us at all,” said Crofts. “I think we were playing some great stuff before that and even after that - Rudds has been great pre-season and it is just one of those things. He isn't going to let that affect him.

“He's done really well and it was just one of those things, but the lads responded well.”