Despite his complaints in midweek, Everton manager David Moyes will not be able to make many personnel changes when Tottenham Hotspur visit Goodison Park on Sunday.
Moyes was honest and went as far as saying that the squad he has inherited from Sean Dyche is not good enough to be where he wants them to be, and January recruits are an absolute must.
Nothing has materialised in the transfer market since their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday though, so Moyes will have the same threadbare squad to choose from ahead of the visit from Spurs, who start the weekend just two places above them.
The only change will likely be on the right-wing, where Jesper Lindstrom's promising impact should see him rewarded with a start ahead of Jack Harrison, who was hugely disappointing before being hooked on 58 minutes against Villa.
Everton's problem remains putting the ball in the back of the net, and despite the best efforts of Lindstrom in injury time, setting Dominic Calvert-Lewin up on a plate, the number nine scuffed his effort into the Gwladys Street, condemning the Toffees to a third straight defeat without scoring.
Moyes seemed reluctant to give Beto many minutes on Wednesday night, so that suggests he will start with Calvert-Lewin again, despite another frustrating appearance from the striker, who has now gone 16 games without a goal, closing in on his record of 23 matches from last season.
Armando Broja is also unavailable, and looks like he will be out for the next three months after damaging ankle ligaments in the FA Cup win over Peterborough United last weekend.
It appears as though Chelsea will only take the loanee back if Everton pay off the rest of his loan contract, but no decision has yet been made regarding that, even though the club will be desperate to get another loan player in this month.
While goals are a problem, creating chances are too, with Dwight McNeil still out with the knee injury he picked up at the start of December.
Despite now not having played in six matches, McNeil has still created twice as many chances as any other Everton player this season, and three times as many 'big chances', illustrating the importance of him in attack and from set pieces.
Captain Seamus Coleman remains out, and young duo Tim Iroegbunam and Youssef Chermiti are not ready to return either, but there is better news regarding midfielder James Garner.
After spending over three months on the sidelines with a back injury, Garner should be available this weekend, but following such a lengthy layoff, a place on the bench is most likely for him.
Everton possible starting lineup: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Click here to see how Spurs could line up for this encounter.
Andrew Delaney
