Moyes ignores injury excuse

David Moyes insists his side will cope without Mikel Arteta after Everton were dealt another injury blow. The Toffees take on West Brom this Saturday, a game live on Sky Sports, but Moyes' side will have to contend without the services of midfield maestro Arteta.The Spanish playmaker is out of action for the rest of the season after it was revealed the 26-year-old ruptured the cruciate ligament in his right knee against Newcastle last weekend.Last Sunday's 0-0 draw with the Magpies added two more victims to the ever-growing casualty list at Goodison Park this campaign in the shape of sidelined Victor Anichebe and Jack Rodwell.Long-term injuries to Louis Saha, James Vaughan and Yakubu have forced Moyes to use midfielder Tim Cahill as an emergency striker at times so drastic has the crisis been.But the Everton boss has refused to bemoan his lack of luck over players' fitness and maintains his sixth placed outfit can manage.No excuse"Yakubu and Vaughan went out and we have gone on and not made any excuses. We will do the same for Mikel," the Toffees boss said."We know he is very influential for us but we will try not to talk too much about the injured players."I think our football is at the same level as last season and I expect the players to play at that level."Just because we have lost Yakubu or Mikel doesn't give them the excuse not to reach the standards we set them."It is business as usual and it is an important three points we want to take against West Brom tomorrow."Despite the injuries Moyes remains optimistic of being able to exert pressure on fifth-placed Arsenal, just four points above the Toffees.Saturday's early kick-off represents an ideal opportunity for Everton to put pressure on Arsene Wenger's side.Good position"We are in a good position but it is only February and nothing is won and lost," said Moyes."We will keep hanging in there and try to achieve a top-four place if we can."I hope we can put pressure on the teams above us but West Brom are a good footballing team and there will be periods where we have to be patient."Everton have won just once in five Premier League games but the visit of the bottom side gives them a chance to end that run.Moyes, who is an admirer of Baggies boss Tony Mowbray, is taking nothing for granted."It would be nice to get the game won but you have to earn it and there will be a lot to do against West Brom," he said."His teams play really good football and I like his style and what he stands for - it worked for him coming out of the Championship and maybe if they stay up this year they will be much stronger going into next season."

Source: SKY_Sports