Michael Ball said that Duncan Ferguson's spell as caretaker manager prior to Carlo Ancelotti's appointment got Everton "bouncing again", amid recent reports that he turned down joining the Italian at Real Madrid as he wants to manage the Toffees.

Following Marco Silva's sacking early in December of 2019, the legendary Toffees striker was placed in temporary charge with Everton sitting in the relegation zone following a 5-2 Merseyside derby loss.

And despite a dauting run of Premier League fixtures on the horizon, Ferguson relished the big occasion and laid the foundations for incoming manager Ancelotti.

Two Dominic Calvert-Lewis goals inspired Everton to beat Chelsea in Ferguson's first game in charge before backing up that result by earning a point at Old Trafford, although that afternoon was more remembered for the Scotsman showing his brutal side when he famously substituted a substitute in Moise Kean.

Everton were then knocked out of the EFL Cup by Leicester three days later, but Ferguson rounded off his cameo in the dugout by holding Arsenal to a goalless draw to ensure he remained unbeaten in the Premier League.

And Ball told The Transfer Tavern that Ferguson's brief spell in charge of the team got Everton back on track:

"The last time I went to Goodison Park and really enjoyed going again and watching Everton being Everton under Duncan Ferguson, it was only for four games, but he's the one that got the club bouncing again against Manchester United and Chelsea.

"And that's what Carlo came in and witnessed, he saw Goodison full, the performance that Duncan got and that atmosphere."