TIMES have changed since Everton last travelled the length of the M62 to the KC Stadium. A resounding 4-0 victory over Hull City in the Carling Cup back in September came in the middle of an impressive run of five successive wins.

Confidence was sky high at Goodison and a weakened Tigers side were ruthlessly brushed aside by goals from Yakubu, Jo, Dan Gosling and Leon Osman.

Fast forward two months and the mood is very different. Manager David Moyes is having to contend with the worst injury crisis of his managerial career.

Everton’s last nine games in all competitions have yielded just a solitary victory and they find themselves just four points above the Premier League drop zone.

Yesterday’s press conference at Finch Farm provided another tale of woe with the news that Phil Neville’s plans of returning to action this week have been shelved.

Minor surgery on his knee has put the skipper back on the sidelines along with Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe, James Vaughan and Leon Osman.

Throw into the mix the fact that midfielders Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Marouane Fellaini are suspended and Steven Pienaar is unlikely to be risked, and Moyes’ has a major selection headache.

However, the Everton manager refused to dwell on his misfortune and is determined to keep the focus on those who are available as his depleted side seek a morale-boosting triumph ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison.

“I’m sure everyone has opinions about what we can do but take it from me I’m trying everything I can to find something which might work better,” Moyes said.

“We have no wide players right now and we have players who have to come out as we feel we have overplayed them. We are trying to introduce new players to the team as well but we have also got suspensions.

“It is by far the worst injury list I have had as a manager but what’s the point in me coming out and saying that? I’m sure there are managers who have had far more than me. You just have to get on with it and we will do it.

“I think Baz (head physio Mick Rathbone) is in a clinic for depression at the moment. It has been a tough time for the medical team.

“There isn’t anyone really on the horizon. It is not as if there are all these injured players ready to ride over the hill and bail us out.

“That is why it is far better concentrating on the fit ones and demanding of them to play better than they are at the moment.”

Moyes admits Everton are struggling for form but he insists there were signs of improvement during the second half of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

“There were some good moments and we livened it up a little bit after the break,” he added.

“I think the signs are there that we are getting back to things. We know that we are not as fluid and rhythmic as we were towards the end of last season but I feel there have been signs.

“I am disappointed that we have not played better but that is because my expectations of what my players should be doing is so high.

“I want them to be playing like they were at the end of last season but we are not quite there at that moment.”

History is on Everton’s side tonight as they took four points off the East Yorkshire club last season and haven’t lost to Hull since December 1952.