DAVID MOYES believes Everton can help Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines earn a ticket to South Africa next summer by propelling themselves back into the top six.

The impressive form of Jagielka and Baines during the past 18 months has already brought them to the attention of England coach Fabio Capello.

Jagielka has made three appearances for his country while Baines was an unused substitute on his first call-up for the friendly against Slovakia in March.

However, Jagielka has been sidelined since April with a cruciate ligament problem that will keep him out for at least another month, while Baines has failed to be named in any subsequent squads by Capello.

Moyes, though, is confident the defensive duo can force their way back into the England reckoning before next summer, provided Everton regain their place among the Premier League front-runners.

"They (Phil and Leighton) have a real good chance if we pick up and get to the top of the league," said Moyes.

"It will certainly bring to light the players at Everton. If we can get our act together I’m sure they will come to the fore."

But Moyes has played down suggestions Jack Rodwell could force his way into the England reckoning before the finals

"There are potential opportunities, although I don’t know about Jack," he said. "I think it may come too soon for him but in years to come there will be chances."

Everton return to Premier League action this afternoon when they entertain promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Moyes’s side went into the international break having seen a five-match winning run ended by a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Stoke City that left them in 10th place after eight games.

And the Goodison manager admits the win is all that matters today. "Points are always important in the Premier League and we have to try to get three," said Moyes.

"We failed against Stoke. I thought our performance was even better than at Portsmouth the week before, when we won 1-0.

"In truth I’m looking for a more consistent level of performance but I’ll settle for playing badly again and taking the three points."

Steven Pienaar, who has been absent since injuring his knee at Portsmouth last month, faces a late fitness test and is rated as "touch and go" by Moyes, although Joseph Yobo is expected to return after playing 90 minutes for Nigeria last week.

Also available is Marouane Fellaini, with Belgium’s attempt to have the midfielder banned for today’s game dismissed by FIFA after he underwent a wisdom tooth operation on Monday that forced him to miss his country’s midweek World Cup qualifier against Estonia.

"Felli thinks the virus came from the wisdom tooth and he has been complaining of that," added Moyes. "He has known the date to get his teeth out probably for a month.

"There were a couple of games where we thought ‘should we leave him out because of his tooth?’ but its been in his diary and his mind for a month that that was when he was getting them done and we let him get on with it."

THEY say progress can often come at a price. And with concerns over fixture congestion and the international commitments of his players, David Moyes is finding progress at Everton does have some side-effects.

Moyes’s men begin another busy period of their season when they resume Premier League hostilities by welcoming Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon.

The Goodison outfit are facing a spell of seven games in 23 games that includes Europa League double header against Benfica, a Carling Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur and a league visit to West Ham United.

And with a lengthy injury list showing no signs of abating, Moyes acknowledges his squad will once again be stretched to the limit.

"It is going to be a tough ask for us," he says. "We are going to require everybody and the thing is that we will not get any injured players back this month. We don’t get Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe or Phil Neville back, and that is for sure."

Of today’s visit of Wolves, Moyes adds: "I won’t have an eye on Thursday’s Benfica match. I need to win the Premier League game and see what happens from there. The difficult thing is going to Europe without having Lucas or John (Heitinga) available to play.

"With none of those players due back in this period it makes me very limited on who I can pick so we need to get Premier League points on the board if we can."

International commitments are also placing a burden on his squad. Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and John Heitinga all travelled to Sydney for Australia’s friendly against Holland, Tim Howard returned only yesterday from USA duty while Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Marouane Fellaini and Joseph Yobo were all required by their country in the past week.

And Moyes admits: "Watching your players on international duty can be horrible. And when you do get them back there are an awful lot of bugs going about at the moment and a couple have a touch of flu.

"But I feel more for the players. The media and supporters form opinions on what they will see at the World Cup. So think of the players who have had to play for most of the summer plus then their regular season in whatever league they play –the drain on the players is going to be big.

"The players more than anyone could do with some time and not having to fly to Australia, or Nigeria or Japan or wherever they are getting asked to go.

"The players need a break or there will be a lot of weary players come the end of the season and going into the World Cup and there will be a lot of weary players ahead of the Premier League starting again next year."

One player who Moyes hasn’t had to keep his fingers crossed for is Louis Saha.

The French striker has not been required by his country since earning the last of his 18 caps in October 2006 when scoring in a European Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

But with seven goals in eight games so far this season, the 31-year-old is among the most in-form forwards in the Premier League.

And team-mate and compatriot Sylvain Distin believes Saha should be allowed a chance to stake his claim with France facing a World Cup qualifying play-off next month.

"Louis has to get a call up," says Distin. "He is a striker and he scores goals. At the moment he is scoring every week and that’s what a national side needs.

"Another month on the form he is on and he should definitely be called up for France in the World Cup if they make it.

"Louis is an incredible player. He does his talking on the pitch and is full of confidence right now. He’s got seven goals in eight games so if you’re not confident after that I am not sure what will make you confident!"

Distin, though, doesn’t expect to be on a plane to South Africa next summer despite the encouraging start to life at Goodison following his £5million move from Portsmouth shortly before the summer transfer deadline.

"I am almost 32 and I have never been called to the national side yet," says the centre-back. "If it comes then it would be great but I am happy with my career. I am working hard at Everton so if I deserve it, it will come."

Distin is likely to be partnered once again by Yobo at the heart of defence, with the Nigerian having recovered from the injury that ruled him out of Everton’s last two games.

With Neville absent, Yobo netted twice as stand-in skipper before Leon Osman also scored on two occasions having picked up the captain’s armband, including the equaliser in the 1-1 home draw with Stoke City in Everton’s last game.

And of the temporary captains, Moyes adds: "I think they have done well. Joseph Yobo scored a goal or two and we gave Ossie it and he scored a goal and I might have to give it to someone else then!

"I would hate to think it was the armband making the difference though, I would like it to be the responsibility. I could quite easily make Tim Cahill, Tony Hibbert, Tim Howard captain – any of those who have been with us a while.

"I want them to understand what I require and what performance is needed. I have been pleased with both Joe and Ossie – they have taken on a responsibility and it has worked for them."