David Moyes says his players have agreed they will not use the size of the Everton squad as an excuse this season. The Blues have just 18 senior outfield players after an extraordinary end to the transfer window that saw the dressing room shrink after a summer in which CEO Angus Kinnear had repeatedly said the target was to strengthen.
Moyes insists standards remain high
Such limited resources threaten to undermine the club's ambitions this season. But Moyes insisted he will not allow anyone to focus on that as he attempts to build for a positive campaign.
Speaking after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester United ended a chaotic week - in which it also emerged Everton owners the Friedkin Group were seeking, at the very least, outside investment - Moyes was asked how he would try to ensure standards and expectations remain high after a disappointing end to the summer business.
Players buy into no-excuses approach
He said: "I said there would be no excuses from any players, from none of us, for what's gone on. The players all agreed. We won't be walking off shaking our heads if we're players short. It'll be completely the opposite reaction."
"And the players have hugely bought into it. Sometimes when you have less players it means that everybody has to be ready. We only got three subs on but there will be games when we will be needing them and players who, maybe are on the fringes, they are going to have to go out and show the supporters why they should be in the team."
Injury update and upcoming fixtures
Moyes named teenage forward Braiden Graham on the bench on Sunday to fill the squad, with Christian Norgaard still out injured. He said the central midfielder, signed this summer from Arsenal, was not expected to be fit before the international break at the end of this month.
He added: "Sometimes when you're a small squad you have to find a way of making it work. Who knows how it will be for us? It's going to be difficult, we have three-game weeks coming up, which with a small squad is difficult in the Premier League."
