A lot was made after the deadline day debacle that left Everton with just 18 outfield players, but maybe it is more a case of the saying - 'small but perfectly formed'.

Aside from the defeats by Chelsea and Arsenal, the Toffees are battling against all their critics as well as their opponents to sit seventh, and could go into the top four if they beat Coventry at home on Friday evening.

While David Moyes would no doubt have wanted three or four more in his set-up, the players he has at his disposal have qualities that means his side are tough to beat.

Captain James Tarkowski is having his best season in an Everton shirt, leading by example.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is rightly being touted as someone who should be in the England squad due to be announced later this week, while Thierno Barry has defied many who wrote him off having scored eight goals so far - the number he got in the whole of the last campaign.

Despite the dramatic 24 hours that almost saw him sold in the summer, Harrison Armstrong has started every Premier League game at just 19-years-old, and Tyrique George has been exciting many on the left wing to a level that means Jack Grealish has not been missed.

Everton are also set to face League Two Fleetwood Town in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, a competition they have never won.

Right now, there might not be a long list of names on the squad list, but it has increased the togetherness and brought about a positive feeling and mentality that might have been lost if the manager had a huge dressing room.