David Moyes warns it will take time for new Everton signings to fit in

With the first-leg of a Uefa Cup tie against Belgian champions Standard Liege looming before clashes with Blackburn Rovers, in the Carling Cup, and a Premier League encounter with Liverpool, Moyes said: "There is no margin for error. Not at all. But maybe the big games will help us. Maybe that is what we need.

"I'm very worried about the games ahead because we need to get ready to play. I've been saying all through the summer that I was concerned about the start of the season we had as I didn't think we would be in the right condition because of injuries, etc.

"We are still playing a centre-half in midfield. We are still playing a young boy alongside him. We have put in a young centre-forward who needs a month or so of football before he is ready. We are quite a way away from getting it right.

"It takes time to put people in. We don't have that much time to find a side and a winning formula."

Everton's stumbling start to the season has drawn comparisons with their disastrous start to the 2005-06 campaign, which saw them crash out of the Champions League and Uefa Cup in the opening weeks and fail to register a single Premier League win until October.

Moyes added: "I think we have been aware of that (the comparison with 2005-6). We knew it was going to be a difficult start to the season. Some of the games we knew we might have a chance of getting some points from and it was important that we got them.

"I think we are still missing key players. Tim Cahill is probably another month away from playing. Tony Hibbert is a month away from being back in the squad. Steve Pienaar is four or five weeks away. We are missing those boys as much as anyone. Then you can see Vaughany and Victor Anichebe, who has come back from the Olympics injured. We want those boys where they were, which was being very good at coming off the bench and helping change games."

One of the biggest dilemmas facing Moyes is how much of his transfer kitty to throw at his primary targets, such as midfielder Joao Moutinho. He has kept his budget intact so far and could try a big, last-day offer in the region of £16-18million - a club record - to tempt Sporting Lisbon into doing business. However weekend suggestions the Portuguese star has already been to Finch Farm have been dismissed by the club. Alternatively Galatasaray midfielder Mehmet Topal could come into the reckoning for a lesser price of around £10m.

However they will not be persuing any interest in 36-year-old former Celtic and Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson.

That may leave Moyes looking to add another couple of loan deals to swell numbers at Goodison Park.