Impressive Toffees over sticky patch, insists Moyes
The Toffees were denied a battling victory at title chasers Arsenal on Saturday when Tomas Rosicky netted a stoppage-time equaliser.
Nevertheless, Everton are unbeaten in the league since defeat to near-neighbours Liverpool at the end of November and, after a shaky start, they are now up to 12th in the table.
Moyes has seen his squad hit by injuries to the likes of Victor Anichebe, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka and Sylvan Distin, while captain Phil Neville has only recently returned from knee ligament damage.
It has been a difficult period for the Toffees, but Moyes feels with players on the comeback trail and the boost of loan signing Landon Donovan, who impressed on his debut, have given the Goodison Park club a lift for the challenges ahead.
“The big thing for us is that in the last two or three weeks we have just started to see players return to the training ground and because of that it had made the players in the team realise (there is competition) if they don’t buck up their ideas,” Moyes said.
“The one thing I have tried not to do is talk about injuries because then it deflects away from the players on the field, but we have had players who have been out for a year. We have just started getting them back in the last day or two and it has given everybody at the club a lift.”
Moyes added: “Over the last few years we have managed to finish somewhere around the top end and that is why I have gone around with a long face and been a bit miserable because I don’t think we should be where we are.
“But now I am getting my players back I do think we will be amongst them.
“The performance here showed that maybe Everton aren’t quite as far away from Arsenal as maybe the points difference suggests.”
United States international Donovan has signed for a 10-week spell from Los Angeles Galaxy.
Moyes was impressed with his display, the 27-year-old American setting up Leon Osman to head Everton into an early lead with a well-delivered corner.
“From what I have seen of him his football’s simple, he’s quick, he’s lively and he’s intelligent,” said Moyes.
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