REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
David Moyes has been candid about his frustrations with Everton's summer transfer window, admitting the club lost a key player in Iliman Ndiaye without the incomings to fully compensate.
"We were looking to get some money in and we lost Ili (Ndiaye) who was someone we definitely didn't want to lose. Sometimes it's difficult when a club like Manchester City comes for your players. We liked Ili a lot," the manager said, having also seen Beto join Fiorentina without a direct replacement.
Everton striker Beto
"I know what it looks like to build a squad for the Premier League and how many players you need. But some things went against us. Other things we could have done better. We didn't want to lose players but for a lot of reasons that didn't happen.
"They are all going to have to muck in. We've got a really small squad but sometimes that gives people opportunities. Let's see if some of them can do that.
"The players have made a really good start to the season so there's a lot of positivity and confidence here in how we've started."
That admission that Everton's threadbare squad may need to lean on fresh faces comes at an interesting time, with Moyes' side preparing to host Manchester United this weekend.
And while he isn't expected to be involved on Sunday, the Everton boss has dropped a strong hint ahead of the match that one academy forward in particular could be handed his chance before too long, such is the lack of depth in forward positions.
Moyes tips exciting academy forward for first-team opportunities
REUTERS/Toby Melville
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Moyes suggested Everton's younger players might now find first-team opportunities arriving faster than planned, with Under-21 forward Braiden Graham name-dropped as the standout option.
The 18-year-old Northern Irishman has been in red-hot form for Everton's youth sides and spent much of pre-season working alongside the senior squad.
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Braiden Graham Appearances Goals Assists
Everton U21 41 24 7
Everton U18 18 12 2
Moyes was careful to manage expectations over exactly how Graham might be used, and he isn't viewed by his manager as a central striking option given he stands at just 5 foot 9, but it's fair to say the boss is excited to see what's to come.
"He's probably someone who will play off the sides. We like Braiden. He's trained with us and was with us in pre-season. He's certainly moving in the right direction.
"But it would be a difficult ask for any young player to come into the Premier League and be a source of goals."
With Everton's squad stretched thin following a difficult summer window, and Moyes openly acknowledging that his current group will need to "muck in," Graham's path to regular first-team involvement could accelerate quickly, especially if there are injuries to the likes of Brennan Johnson and Tyrique George.
J Zirkzee
J Zirkzee
He may have to bide his time before a Manchester United clash of this magnitude comes his way, but on this evidence, it may not be long before he's given his shot on the biggest stage.