Everton are set to give late fitness tests to Bilyaletdinov Yobo, Baines and Yakubu – who ruptured his Achilles tendon which kept him out for nine months during the club’s last visit to White Hart Lane. However, the quartet’s chances of playing are slim.

Moyes led his side to the FA Cup final last season and admits he’d love a Wembley return this term in the only major domestic competition Everton have never won – as he looks to break his own trophy duck in his eighth full season at the club – but acknowledges that his squad’s fitness problems are becoming a major factor.

He said: “We have a lot of games coming up and things are difficult with selection. But I certainly enjoyed getting to the FA Cup final last season and I would love to do that again in this competition.

“We will be trying our hardest to get through to the next stage, whatever team we put out. We have been without some of our best players certainly for half of last season and now the start of this. Sooner or later, somewhere along the line it will take its toll in performances and some of the results.”