Why coping with adversity can help Everton win the FA Cup
David Moyes believes coping with adversity has taken Everton within touching distance of Wembley.
The Everton boss has overseen a shocking catalogue of injuries that would have broken lesser clubs.
Even this week Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe have had knee operations that have ruled them out for the season.
They join Ayegbeni Yakubu, James Vaughan, Nuno Valente and Tony Hibbert on the ever-increasing injury list.
Moyes admits he has struggled to put together a squad for Sunday's home FA Cup quarter-final with Middlesbrough, the winners assured of a semi-final date at Wembley on April 18 or 19.
But Moyes feels that facing up to such problems has created a strong team spirit among his squad.
He said: "We are stretched as far as we can go. We now have a situation where our squad is really thin, I don't know how we could cope with any more injuries.
"And there are not too many of them about to come back. Vaughan could be six weeks away, Valente may be a bit quicker.
"Hibbert should be back in three weeks, but then we are searching around.
"When I saw Leon Osman getting hit on the head at Blackburn this week I just felt, please no, with our luck it could have been a fractured skull!"
Moyes is just thankful he has such an adaptable squad.
He said: "I cannot praise the rest of the lads enough. What has been happening to us has made them even more determined.
"The players understand, the supporters too, and hopefully we can all get there together.
"Everyone has just rolled their sleeves up and got on with it, we cannot feel sorry for ourselves.
