DAVID MOYES admits it will be difficult to reflect on this season without a sense of regret as Everton suffered another setback in their quest for European qualification.

The Goodison outfit were held to a 2-2 draw at near rivals Birmingham City on Saturday despite having raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 22 minutes.

It means they remain six points adrift of sixth place and a Europa League berth, despite having lost only two of their last 15 Premier League games.

Previous long-term absentees Victor Anichebe and Yakubu were on the scoresheet while Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka, who have both missed much of the season through injury, also started the match.

And Moyes accepts his team could be further up the league but for those debilitating fitness setbacks.

“I do think ‘if only’ but I don’t want to be looking back.

“I want to be looking back and think it was not because of injuries, have a football conversation at the end of it and not talk about injuries.

“I feel we have got a good team but we just couldn’t cope with so many major injuries at the start of the season.

“We are sort of over that but we still have some major players out.

“I wouldn’t say we have big squad. Strong, but you couldn’t use the word big. We probably have the least amount of numbers I would say in the Premier League compared to any club.”