DAVID MOYES has challenged Everton to secure the European qualification he believes the club requires to prosper next season.

The Goodison outfit visit North West neighbours Wigan Athletic this afternoon looking to extend an eight-match unbeaten Premier League run.

Moyes’s men currently stand eight points adrift of Aston Villa, who occupy seventh place and the last likely Europa League berth.

After today’s encounter at the DW Stadium, Everton face a difficult February with league games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur along with both legs of their Europa League tie against Sporting Lisbon.

And Moyes has underlined the importance of securing a return to the Continent next season in terms of matching his and his team’s ambition.

“I’m ambitious and I want to be managing in European competition,” said the Scot. “I tell the players that. I want them to have the same drive as me.

“In the past few years, we have been closer to it but this year we are not. We are going to have to fight incredibly hard and somehow scrape in by the skin of our teeth. But we have to keep believing we can make it.

“I think if we can come out top end after the next month then we will give ourselves a chance.

“I’m really fortunate with the players I have got. I have a group that really care and, they all really want to be in Europe. They are desperate to do well and care about the situation the club is in.”

Moyes, who continues to ponder over two possible loan deals before the transfer window closes on Monday, added: “Good players want to play in Europe, and we want to be there to make us attractive to these players. Players want to see European football. They want the Champions League, and if not that, the Europa League is the next best thing.