Neville: Small squad has worked in Everton's favour

Although Moyes endured a frustrating time in the market ahead of the current campaign before eventually landing Fellaini on transfer deadline day, he was linked to high-profile performers such as midfielder Joao Moutinho of Sporting Lisbon and Portugal and CSKA Moscow's Brazilian international striker Vagner Love.

With January's transfer window just a fortnight away, rumours are surfacing linking Moyes with a number of top-name players after the manager himself admitted he was "interested in everybody" due to the current injury crisis which has seen all four of Everton's senior strikers sidelined.

Neville hopes Moyes can continue adding quality to the squad but with the Scot claiming that he won't have big money to spend, his skipper insists it is not an immediate necessity.

"Since I've joined the club, the players that the manager has been bringing in have been getting better and better each season," said Neville.

"That obviously will keep improving and we do probably need to add to the squad again in the summer - you do every summer - but that's the managers job, that's what he's paid to do.

"As players it's a two-fold thing. You want the best players playing here but, the smaller the squad, the more opportunities you have to play games.

"We've always worked on a small squad here and it's always worked to our benefit."

Moyes has paid tribute to the strength of character in the squad that has enabled them to become credible European challengers once again despite their numerous setbacks this term.

He said: "We are resilient and always have been. "We have got a group of players who are prepared to play with injuries.

"For instance, Ossie (Leon Osman) had a late fitness test and probably shouldn't have played against City.

"The lads in this team will play for you when they are injured.

"They play out of position and they get on with it when you ask them. It is great when you have a group like that.

"I get asked at coaching seminars 'what is team spirit?' Team spirit comes from winning games, when there is a real togetherness.

"It would have been easy for us to get down ourselves after losing to Villa, and the fact we didn't have any strikers. But these players wanted to bounce back immediately.

"They deserve credit for that. It is hard to get out there, roll your sleeves up, play with injuries, play without forwards and not feel sorry for yourselves."

Outstanding away form has enabled Everton to remain on the coat-tails of the sides who currently occupy the European places, with 19 of their 25 points being picked up in away games.

But Moyes remains adamant that it is only a matter of time before fortunes are reversed at Goodison.

He added: "We've been a little bit unfortunate, but if we keep winning away it gives us a chance to have a really good season if we start winning at home."

Continuing to receive treatment on a back problem, Victor Anichebe is set to return to the fold for the visit of Chelsea to Goodison on Monday but fellow striker Louis Saha is progressing slower as he recovers from a hamstring injury.