DAVID MOYES admitted last night that he has run out of options to solve a growing creative crisis at Goodison Park – as Mikel Arteta’s long-awaited return to form was cruelly cut short by a hamstring injury.

The little Spaniard pulled up in agony just seven minutes into last night’s frustrating draw with Birmingham.

And with Marouane Fellaini, Tim Cahill and Phil Neville already sidelined, the Everton manager admitted his hands were tied to try and improve on a goals return of just six goals in their last six matches. Moyes said: “There aren’t any other creative players we can turn to otherwise I would have turned to them, we’ve got what we’ve got.

“We don’t know the extent of Mikel’s injury yet, but obviously it’s a hamstring.

“And losing him was a big blow for us because we needed some creativity. I knew if we didn’t have him we were going to be struggling to create too much.

“Leon Osman had a go, but otherwise we were struggling to make things happen.”

Arteta pulled up in agony as he sprinted down the left flank. After creating a goal at Newcastle last weekend, and another on his previous Premier League appearance at Goodison Park against Sunderland, it was a crushing blow.

“I don’t know if it was a turning point in the game but it was certainly a big moment for us when you lose such a big player,” added Moyes.

“But they also lost David Bentley and he’s an important player for them as well.

“But it was frustrating.

“We didn’t play well enough to win the game. We had a few half chances but that was it.”