FRUSTRATED David Moyes admits his under-performing players are being spared the axe by Everton’s chronic injury problems.

And those fitness concerns are showing no signs of abating with Tim Cahill a major doubt for this evening’s journey down the East Lancs Road to take on Manchester United.

Moyes had hoped the recent international break would offer a chance for some of the absentees to return, with Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar and Phil Neville slated for a possible comeback at Old Trafford.

However, the Goodison manager is likely to be without all three with Cahill in danger of joining the trio on the sidelines after suffering a groin strain while playing for Australia.

Everton resume Premier League hostilities having earned their first win in eight games with the 2-1 victory at West Ham United a fortnight ago.

But Moyes fears the current lack of competition for places is making it difficult to punish players for poor performances.

“Steven Pienaar and Phil Neville are not close to playing,” said the Goodison manager. “I hoped after the West Ham game that the break would give us a chance to go into this game with no new players out, so from that point of view it makes it difficult trying to find a team out of what we have got.

“We’re having to play people out of position, who are not in good form, people who ideally we would give a rest to. The hardest thing is that if people are not performing well, they are getting rewarded with the next game.

“Normally we would not get that but we don’t have any options, and we’re trying to find a winning formula out of 12 or 13 players.”