Everton building foundations for next season

With Everton sitting in 8^th place in the Premier League you would be forgiven for thinking that Evertonians were disappointed by the season so far.

In fact you’d be wrong, the majority of the Toffee’s fans realise why Everton are midtable.

Injuries

The reason Everton are midtable is because of the awful injuries Everton have had this season. Just as Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta came back from a year out injured, midfield colleague Marouane Fellaini picked up an injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season.

It’s been like that all season, just when one player comes back another gets injured. Everton are currently without Tim Cahill and Louis Saha as well as the aforementioned Fellaini. That’s three very big players. All three are key players in the Everton side.

Returns

Yesterday afternoon’s 5-1 victory over Hull showed Everton fans what we have been missing for almost a year. The game was dominated by the brilliant Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has been nowhere near fitness in recent weeks but has slowly been rediscovering his match fitness.

He scored two goals and had a hand in everything good about Everton’s attacking play. Everton have done well without him but with him they’re a much better team. His return has been timely in the absence of the in-form Fellaini.

The other return of note to the Everton team has been that of defender Phil Jagielka. He started his first game yesterday since April and looked as if he had never been away. He adds an extra bit of composure and steel to the Everton backline. He is also a leader and his positional play is superb.

Even the return of the likes of young striker Victor Anichebe and full-back Tony Hibbert has gave David Moyes extra options. Unfortunately a cautionary note is that midfielder Leon Osman went off with an injury today and young striker James Vaughan is also carrying a knock.

It’s plain to see that the injury situation is clearing up at Everton and the fact that David Moyes could replace the injured Leon Osman with the highly promising Jack Rodwell is evidence of that. Earlier in the season the youngster suffered a little from burnout, as Moyes had to pick him out of necessity with the injury list so long. However a spell on the substitute bench has refreshed the youngster and he looks to be back to his energetic best.

Future

If everybody can stay fit for in the Everton squad, next season could be the biggest season of David Moyes reign. However that’s a big if, as Everton can’t seem to get through a game at the moment without somebody getting a knock.

David Moyes has been building slowly but surely, adding players of quality along the way. You only have to look through the Everton squad list and see the calibre of player now gracing the Goodison pitch. The squad is full of international stars and players capable of producing on the big stage.

Everton have won the last six games at home including victories over Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. Those victories have been achieved with key players missing. Everton have also drew at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates Stadium, where they should have picked three points.

Success

Who knows what they can achieve with a fully fit squad next season and probably no European football as a distraction? Next season Everton have the potential to challenge for a top four spot with a squad full of quality players. They have already proven that even with key players missing they can still beat the best and with a host of players for David Moyes to choose from surely success isn’t far away.

An FA Cup final appearance last season won’t be Moyes biggest achievement at the club, there is still much more to come from the Scot. I have a feeling he won’t rest until Everton are back amongst the big boys of the English game.