Moyes Eyes Injury Boost

Blues hoping to welcome back key players for Stoke.

David Moyes hopes to have a stronger squad avaialble for Sunday's clash with Stoke at Goodison Park.

The Blues bench had a particularly youthful look to it at Bolton last week, with Phil Neville, Sylvain Distin, Royston Drenthe and Jack Rodwell all on the injured list.

None of those players are long-term absentees, however, and Moyes is hopeful of calling upon at least some of them when he submits his teamsheet on Sunday.

"We have had a few injuries and we will see how they are," said Moyes. "We are hoping to have some of them back. We are running into December which is a busy month for everybody and it is important we get as many players back as we possibly can.

"I am hoping I can get the few back to help us. Last week our bench at Bolton was incredibly young, there was nobody with any sort of senior standing at all.

"The injured lads have got a chance. We will see how they do over the next day or two."