David Moyes has expressed his reasons for Everton's lack of transfer activity in the build-up to their crunch clash with Leicester on Saturday.
The Toffees recorded successive league victories for the first time this season, courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Brighton last weekend.
That result saw Everton move seven points clear of the drop zone in 16th, with the opportunity to win a third straight league game - a run not replicated since April 2024.
Opponents Leicester are under slightly more pressure down the bottom, sitting within touching distance of their relegation rivals under the dotted line.
The Foxes moved out the bottom three thanks to a shock 2-1 win at Tottenham, but remain only a point above the relegation zone ahead of a tricky trip to Goodison.
A high-pressure fixture however is now marred by the news that both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala will be out of action, following injuries sustained at Brighton.
Team news and transfers in addition to everything Everton were the topics discussed as Moyes answered the media ahead of Saturday’s clash.
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Injury issues and team news
A hot topic fresh from the win was the injury updates of Calvert-Lewin and Mangala, who had become important members of Moyes' starting line-up.
The former limped off after 12 minutes last Saturday with a pulled hamstring, expected to rule him out for a number of weeks.
Mangala's issue meanwhile is more serious, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which will most likely end his season-long loan at Everton.
Both players had started every game under Moyes, playing a combined 457 out of 540 minutes between them before being ruled out of action.
The Everton boss gave an honest update when asked on the scale of their injuries, but remained clear on the demands for his squad to step up.
"It's an incredibly big blow to us to lose two players," he said.
"Dom isn't as bad. He doesn't need any surgery, so from our point of view, it's not a good injury, but it's maybe not as bad as we first feared when he got it.
"I believe Mangala will go back. We're waiting for the surgeon to clear it and I think he'll be operated on in France as far as I know.
"But we have to go on, that's what happens. Football clubs do get injuries and you have to find other ways of getting results, and players stepping up and showing what they can do."
A lengthy injury list has seen the likes of Tim Iroegbunam and Dwight McNeil also out, with the Everton boss hopeful of them returning soon.
"Tim needs a good bit of training at the moment. He's just coming back and he'll need a week or two more before I probably feel he's ready for real action.
"Dwight has had a minor surgery, he's back in the building. Hopefully that has now sorted out his injury which was a little bit difficult to diagnose.
"I think there's probably even more reason to bring in players. It's just so difficult to get the players in we want."
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Restricted in a quiet window
The theme of this January transfer window has been the lack in activity from Premier League clubs, barring the heavy spending from Manchester City.
This has been no different at Everton who have been quiet in the market, especially given the managerial change from Sean Dyche to Moyes.
Spending in previous years has notably hit the Toffees financially, with the Premier League's profit and sustainability ruling currently forcing their hand in terms of movement.
The Blues manager admitted that PSR has affected Everton's spending this month, but is still hopeful to make additions.
"Behind the scenes, we're really looking what's out there and who we can bring in. But without doubt, we're still hampered by PSR.
"We have to be mindful of what we can do and I hope the supporters understand that and go with us. We hope to bring in some players but maybe it's not the ones which if we really had the money, we'd be trying to do."
In addition to the transfer restrictions, Moyes was keen to highlight his frustration with where Everton find themselves in the football food chain, based on the Blues' history.
"I've been really surprised in the way it's restricted the Football Club. Everton's a huge football club and it should be competing with many big clubs in the country.
"I think this football club should be buying in a market where we can compete and challenge other teams. At the moment, we're not in that buyer's market, I don't feel."
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Keeping up the positives
Despite frustrations off the pitch, Everton have made strides on it, having won back-to-back league matches.
Prior to Moyes' arrival, the Blues had won once in their last 11 attempts and failed to score in eight of them.
The Toffees' six points from nine under the Scot has seen them more stabilised since, with many starting to believe in Everton reaching the magic 40-point mark.
Positivity was the buzzword as Moyes was keen to deflect the praise onto his players for the upturn in form.
"I think the players deserve the credit. The players have adapted very quickly," he said.
“I actually think there have been a lot of positives. We’ve started to feel as if we might make a few more chances.
“I think you’ve got to have a good defence as well to make sure you’re in a position to win games. Winning the game last week was down to a really good defensive performance so we’re going to have to do that.
"Last week at Brighton, we had to show a lot of the stuff that's been engrained in the players over the past few years. Hard to beat, hard to play against, don't make it easy."
It is no secret that this weekend's match-up with Leicester has added spice given their fortunes at the bottom of the table, with a Toffees win certain to keep themselves in control of their own destiny towards safety.
Quizzed on whether his side should feel the pressure of the contest, Moyes was quick to dismiss those ideas and instead provide the motivation.
“The last thing the players need is pressure. They’re just beginning to get a lot of belief back and we need the supporters to look at it that way.
"I think Leicester have improved recently and they look as if they’re playing better. So I hope that we can get another good result, it’ll be really important."
