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Football

Everton hit by injury crisis

26 Oct 2009


Everton fear they could be without 11 players for the Carling Cup tie with Tottenham, the date of which has angered manager David Moyes.

The Toffees have suffered a spate of injuries and face playing three games in six days, with Moyes angry that tomorrow's fourth round tie at Spurs could not have been moved to Wednesday.

But TV requirements, added to police concerns about two sets of fans from Merseyside travelling in the capital on the same day, meant that it was Liverpool's trip to Arsenal that was switched for live broadcast.

That left Everton forced to play their tie tomorrow, two days after facing Bolton in the Barclays Premier League.

Coming on the back of a Europa League thrashing against Benfica in Lisbon on Thursday, Moyes' mood has not been calmed.

The Scot attacked the competition organisers in his programme notes 10 days ago, writing: "My philosophy has always been to try and put out our best teams in whatever competition we enter, but I find a lack of respect we have been shown by the organisers of the Carling Cup really disappointing.

"That's the support you get for trying to put out a strong side. If I were Carling I would question the people running the competition."

And today he added: "We have a lot of games coming up and things are difficult with selection. But I certainly enjoyed getting to the FA Cup final last season and I would love to do that again in this competition.

"We will be trying our hardest to get through to the next stage, whatever team we put out.

"We have been without some of our best players certainly for half of last season and now the start of this. Sooner or later, somewhere along the line it will take its toll in performances and some of the results."

Ayegbeni Yakubu (heel), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (groin), Joseph Yobo (head) and Leighton Baines (calf) are the likeliest of Everton's wounded brigade to be considered for the Spurs match, but the chances are remote.

Moyes could be without those four plus Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman, Victor Anichebe, Phil Neville and James Vaughan.

John Heitinga, who came off with cramp in the 3-2 defeat at Bolton, will return and Lucas Neill will be given another chance to show his worth.

Neill made his debut at Bolton and said: "I am glad I have finally got my part to play and long may that continue. There are games coming thick and fast now and we've just got to get our form right.

"It is just about getting the confidence back now and the belief that we can win games.

"It is important that we win at Spurs and get to the next round. It is about reaction now after Bolton. We are a bit down on resources at the moment but we are all going to have to chip in.

"Cup runs breed confidence and always have a great atmosphere. Of course the club all want to get to another Wembley final and for me I want to get my first.

"Spurs are probably expected to win, but we feel we have got a good chance of upsetting them."

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