What went wrong for Francis Jeffers?

Moyes did not expect a shrug of the shoulders, but what followed shocked the Everton boss and said everything about why Jeffers' star has long stopped rising and gone into a steep decline.

According to one onlooker, the youngster went 'ballistic', berating Moyes in front of the stunned coaching staff and yelling: 'You can stick your shirt up your ****. I don't want to play for you ever again.'

Another outburst followed after Everton's 3-1 win, again in front of witnesses. Jeffers, who had gone on for the last 12 minutes, even threw the offer of an olive branch back in Moyes' face less than 24 hours later.

Showing remarkable understanding, Moyes made allowances for Jeffers' dismay at finding himself sixth in line for a striking berth and arranged a clear-the-air meeting at the Bellefield training ground the following morning.

Moyes told him: 'Look, feelings were running high, but you've slept on it now. Retract what you said and we'll forget about it.'

Jeffers fixed him with a stare and said: 'No chance. I stick by every word.'

With that last truculent show of defiance, Jeffers had taken another significant stride along the path to self-destruction. This after once being hailed as Arsene Wenger's missing link at Arsenal and the likeliest candidate to forge a productive strike partnership with Michael Owen for England.

An outstanding teenager, he finds himself an outcast at 23, ordered to train by himself for the rest of his loan at Everton and unwanted by Arsenal. The Gunners have handed his No 9 shirt to Jose Reyes and signalled a willingness to accept around £2million for a player who cost them £8m less than three years ago. According to those who know him, Jeffers was badly advised from the outset by a family who thought nothing of confronting Moyes' predecessor Walter Smith with wildly-inflated estimates of how much 'Our Franny' was worth and warnings that he would seek a move unless the money was forthcoming.

Little wonder, then, that after just 18 Premiership appearances, Jeffers managed to monopolise publicity for the launch of the 1999-2000 season with an outrageous demand for a double-your-money £7,500-a-week pay rise.

It was refused and, to no one's surprise, the 18-year old responded by slapping in a transfer request.

It was granted in due course, but only after more run-ins with Smith which betrayed the character flaws at the root of his fall from grace and which have left him regretting a hasty decision to quit his home club so early in his development.

Smith, now assistant at Manchester United to Sir Alex Ferguson, grabbed him by the throat in one moment of exasperation. In another, he axed Jeffers from the starting line-up following a bust-up after a resounding away defeat. The former Rangers boss had read the riot act to his players on the team bus and made it clear he expected a quiet mood of reflection for the remainder of the journey.

Most were happy to comply, but the sombre atmosphere was shattered by Jeffers cackling at a teammate's joke. Smith and assistant Archie Knox instantly delivered a rebuke that apparently drained the colour from Jeffers' face. At Arsenal, he was meant to be the 'fox in the box', the natural finisher to complement the extravagant skills of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires. Yet he looked out of place in such elevated company and, according to insiders, was no more compatible off the pitch.

'He wasn't popular at Highbury,' said one. 'They're sophisticated as well as world-class at Arsenal, and it didn't go down well when this cocky upstart arrived, believing he was the finished article. One problem is that Franny is not as good as he thinks he is.'

Everton owner Bill Kenwright still felt Jeffers was worth a second chance when close friend, Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, offered the one-time England front-runner for the season, albeit at a cost of £2m in loan fees and wages. Moyes went along with the idea but wondered about Jeffers' true worth and made it clear opportunities would have to be earned. Eight months on, his misgivings appear justified. Jeffers has made 15 League appearances and not scored.

In his own mind, he is still a big shot, an image he likes to sustain by uncorking bottles of champagne at his favourite night haunts, the city centre Newz Bar and Baby Blue at the Albert Dock.

Despite being available at onequarter of his original asking price, the only clubs to show an interest have been Birmingham, Portsmouth and Blackburn.

The reality of his situation must be quite sobering.