However the Scot is aiming to rectify the situation by the end of the month when the transfer window closes with a number of new signings.

Moyes has not made any additions in the summer and his lack of numbers has been emphasised ahead of the home fixture against Blackburn tomorrow.

He will be without six senior players as Steven Pienaar, Tim Cahill, Tony Hibbert, James Vaughan and Andy van der Meyde are all injured, while Victor Anichebe is at the Olympics with Nigeria.

It means there could a starting berth for any one of the young quartet of Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling, Jose Baxter and Lukas Jutkiewicz, who have all figured prominently in pre-season.

With a fifth-place finish last season, Moyes is anxious to break into the top group.

But when questioned if the squad was strong enough to build on what he achieved last year, he responded: "No, it is not.

"I am hopeful, however, that something will happen before the deadline as there is money to spend.

"We have not been able to strengthen but if you look around the clubs it has been quite difficult for most of them.

"These things happen in football and Everton are not the only ones with this problem."

Moyes has built his reputation on working well with a small group, but was keen to point out "not this small".

Asked if he was concerned he might only have 10 or 11 senior players available on the opening day, he said: "Yes."

Moyes, however believes they will be able to take on the might of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool when they beef up their squad.

He said: "I want to continue the progress we have made over the last four or five years.

"Everton have done really well and we have changed the club around in that time.

"We have been fortunate enough to have bits of success regarding our league position. Considering the position we were in five or six years ago, there has been a big improvement.

"We have climbed away from the bottom of the league and our football has improved. It is always my ambition to crack the top four."

Everton have had a troubled time off the pitch, mainly concerning the problems surrounding the proposed new stadium at Huyton.

Moyes would like to see matter to be resolved.

He said: "I have to make sure I can continue to make Everton grow. That's my job.

"Everton are growing and we have a ground to play in - it is a great stadium.

"So it is not too big an issue at the moment but we do need either a new stadium or a new Goodison."

Moyes has yet to sign a new contract but is relaxed about the matter claiming: "It is going fine and and we are nudging things along."

He is looking forward to welcoming new Blackburn boss Paul Ince to the blue corner of Merseyside.

Ince secured his move in the summer after learning his craft at League Two sides Macclesfield and then MK Dons.

Moyes said: "I am really pleased as so many ex-players sometimes feel when they fall out of the game that management is an easy thing to do.

"But to be fair to Paul he went away and he could not have gone much lower with the clubs he took.

"He did well with both of them and that earned him a chance in the top flight. He deserves a lot of credit for that. I wish him well and a long stay in the Premier League."

ends