Fear factor is the barrier to UEFA Cup hopes

Given that Everton will be seeded when the draw takes place, they will avoid assignments against high calibre sides such as an AC Milan or an Ajax but that does not mean they can expect to breeze through into the group stages. Far from it.

Manchester City's chastening experience against Danish minnows FC Midtyjlland should finally have proven that there are no such things as formalities in Europe any longer and, after a summer of transfer inactivity, a number of Toffees are sure to be anxious about what lies ahead.

Quite simply, European football is crucial towards Everton's development as a football club, so the consequences of falling at the first hurdle a la three years ago do not bear thinking about. Put simply, there cannot be a repeat.

Blues fans should cast their minds back to that campaign and remember their feelings going into it. Much was promised, the riches of the Champions League were within distance but poor pre-season preparation - a trip to Thailand was not beneficial - ensured they started on the wrong foot.

Following the crushing heartbreak of being robbed in Villarreal then walloped in Bucharest, the wheels threatened to come off spectacularly, and the fact Everton had won only one Premier League game by the start of November spoke volumes.

Moyes and his players, understandably, found it difficult to get over the disappointment of seeing everything they had worked tirelessly towards the previous season slip away, and that ensured it was a long, difficult road to the following May.

Contrast that to last year's escapades. Though they only got past Kharkiv by the skin of their teeth, the extra demands of playing in Europe actually helped Everton. The squad thrived on the workload, Moyes relished the different tests and the spin-off was terrific league form.

But what are the chances this time around? If the games were being staged next week, as opposed to the draw, hand on heart, you would have to say the Blues would struggle to get through, particularly if they came up against organised, hard-working opponents.

Blackburn ruthlessly exposed the current shortcomings in the squad last weekend and unless significant business is done before the transfer window closes, there is no escape from the fact that Everton are not equipped for the demands of the UEFA Cup.

It is enormously frustrating that we are faced with a situation now that sees Evertonians worrying about what fate awaits them in Monaco rather than bristling with confidence, not bothered about the test they will be handed. This, after all, was the campaign that promised so much.

Quite simply, if Moyes and company want to go on another lengthy European tour, quick and decisive action must be taken to bring reinforcements in. If they don't, there is a real fear that the trip which UEFA hand them next month may prove their last for quite some time.