Rafa Benitez is confident Everton will stick around in the Premier League’s upper reaches this term – but the focus right now is on finding a solution for a “short-term problem".

Manager Benitez remains without the gun attacking pair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison – 72 league goals combined since the beginning of 2018/19 – for Saturday’s “really important” meeting with Norwich City.

It is “a question of time”, insists Benitez, before Salomon Rondon hits the goal trail, the Venezuelan deadline-day acquisition currently working to recover full fitness after four months without a game.

Everton are targeting a third successive home victory against Norwich – and a quickfire response to a first defeat of the season, at Aston Villa last week.

Benitez’s team – who lost a Carabao Cup penalty shootout against QPR on Tuesday – go into the weekend sixth in the Premier League table.

“We are in a good position and I am quite optimistic we will stay there – that we will stay close to the top for a long time,” said Benitez.

“We will improve every week.

“Two strikers who scored goals last year are not available but we have to think about the whole season, not just two or three games.

“We have a short-term problem and have to find a short-term solution.

“Tuesday was not easy, we were really upset. It was an opportunity to do well and progress in the competition.

“But we have to move forward, so the main thing is to make sure the players available are ready for Norwich.

“It is a really important match.

“I am quite pleased with everything, the attitude of the players and way we are playing.

“Especially at home, I think the fans appreciate the intensity and offensive football.

“Norwich are more dangerous than people think.

“But, hopefully, if we play at the same level and intensity of the past home games, we can win without conceding and suffering.”

Benitez was speaking in his pre-match media briefing at USM Finch Farm on Friday when a lot of questioning focused on Everton’s potential new-year transfer business.

The talk over incomings was prompted by the departure this week of James Rodriguez for Al-Rayyan in Qatar.

Benitez has had only one trading window since his appointment in June. He sighted a need for wingers and promptly acquired Demarai Gray – a player with “great potential”, reiterated Benitez – and Andros Townsend, the two Englishmen who have hit the ground running at Goodison Park.

Rondon was brought in right on the deadline with a view to a steady introduction. But the 32-year-old is in the team ahead of time owning to those injuries for Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

“Nobody can be four months without playing, training at home, and expect to score three goals a game,” said Benitez.

“He has to improve his fitness.

“He was great for us at Newcastle and Dalian [Benitez and Rondon’s past two clubs].

“We were not expecting to play him [immediately] but Richarlison was injured so we had to throw him into the arena.

“It is just a question of time and he will give us goals.

“Townsend is very professional and training and competing really well.

“He is an example of what you are looking for in a professional football player and I think the fans are really happy with him.”

Benitez is anticipating more room for manoeuvre in the market after the turn of the year.

Meantime, the Spaniard is encouraged by a start that featured a number of good results and promising signs of a recognisable style taking hold.

“It has been really good... not just the results but the way we were playing and reacting," added Benitez.

“It was more of an Everton style and we have to be sure we are ambitious and continue with this style and try to improve.

“I’m 100-per-cent convinced we will continue improving because we did it in all of my life as a coach.

“It’s just a question of finding a solution to these issues this month, then the [October] international break can help recover players.

“I’m sure, little by little, we can continue being stronger.”

Asked if adding fresh blood in January amounts to part of that strengthening process, Benitez said: “Yes, I think so.

"I had that conversation yesterday with Mr Moshiri and we are lucky enough to have owners who want to spend money.

"It is about making sure we can do it in the right way but they are very keen to spend money and improve the team.

“We need to find the right kind of player – who can adapt to the Premier League and bring quality which will improve the level of the team.

“It is difficult to find this balance. We want to spend money but at the same time they have to be good players in England, the Premier League and for Everton Football Club.”