Everton boss Moyes looks to the past for Toffees' new Euro vision

Everton face recently crowned Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg at Goodison Park tomorrow knowing that a point will see them qualify for the next stage of the UEFA Cup.

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Moyes yearns for such progress, and is acutely aware of what the club missed after the Heysel disaster and the ban on English clubs in Europe in 1987.

Everton were champions when the ban was imposed, and in football terms have suffered more than most.

Only under Moyes have Everton come close to any consistency of qualification, and in his own words "we have only won a couple of qualifiers, we have done nothing yet."

But he feels and accepts the responsibility of putting Everton back on the European map.

He said: "It has taken us a long time to get back into Europe, in the 80s Everton were there all the time, but then through no fault of their own they were denied the chance to continue to compete at that level.

"We are now, after all these years, beginning to get back for this club what the fans have missed all these years.

"There is a bit of me that wants to tell people in Europe that they should not forget that Everton were champions of England, and but for the Heysel disaster they have been denied a chance to have a long run in Europe.

"People forget that and don't understand what happened. Everton were unfortunate but I accept it was a tragedy that made football unimportant.

"I still think that it is something I would want to do, to see Everton in Europe regularly. I want to put this club back on the map of European football again.

"I want to show people that there is a growing club in England outside of the top four that is doing really well.

"What happened after Heysel changed lots of careers. Players and managers.

"Since then we have been watching from the outside and the club was denied the chance to grow and benefit from the money in European competition.

"It still affects us now, when there are draws made, we are still suffering because of the lack of regular competition.

"It happened when we got into the Champions League two years ago, our ranking was so poor that we ended up having to face Villarreal, and losing to a team that eventually reached the semi-finals.

"Everton have never had the chance to grow in Europe. Has that had a bad effect on us over the years, yes, I would say it has.

"To do that we have to continue to do well in the Premier League. We have done it a couple of times, but it is not enough, we must do it regularly."

He added: "A lot of people have been impressed with our progress. They are taking notice of the results, the players and the whole side.

"So far we have done nothing, we have only won a couple of qualifiers, so we know we have only just started."

Now Moyes knows that the test of his emerging squad is only just beginning. The Zenit game starts a programme of eight games in 24 days that will shape their season.

Two European matches, a Carling Cup quarter-final and league clash at West Ham, plus matches with Arsenal and Manchester United.

Such demands will stretch Moyes' squad to the limit, and he accepts that the Zenit test, the new Russian champions managed by Dutchman Dick Advocaat, will be Everton's most demanding European game so far.

Everton are unbeaten in eight games, and Moyes said: "We have a couple of gears to get better, but we are beginning to take off and move on.

"We are in Europe and a steady Premier League side improving each season.

"Europe is important, but as we move on in the season you have to decide where it comes in the order of things. And at the moment it is behind us doing well in the Premier League, but I certainly want to qualify for the next stage.

"It was only a couple of years ago that Middlesbrough qualified for the final, and we want to do the same.

"But now we aim to win this group. I want to keep winning because it gives us confidence and a growing understanding of how to handle European games.

"Zenit are the best side in our group and we have to match them. They are Russian champions and unbeaten in this group, so Dick Advocaat has done a very good job there.

"I remember him from Rangers and I have had several chats with him when I have asked advice on Dutch players, he certainly has done a very good job with Zenit."

Everton have doubts over Joseph Yobo (ankle) and goalkeeper Tim Howard (sickness).