Bemused Everton boss David Moyes is considering dusting off his boots and including himself in the starting XI for Sunday's clash with Tottenham, after further injury problems at the club.

The Toffees have endured a torrid start to the season. They continue to flirt with the dreaded drop zone, and are just three points clear of 18th placed Bolton.

Another league defeat last weekend, against city rivals Liverpool no less, has left everyone at the club looking nervously over their shoulder and the visit of an in-form Spurs to Goodison Park this week is hardly well timed from the home side's point of view.

At least Moyes can point to a lengthy injury list as to why his troops have failed to pick up points on a regular basis.

With the likes of Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka still sidelined, there have been further set back's this week on Merseyside.

The centre-back pairing of Sylvain Distin and Joseph Yobo are also ruled out of Sunday's game, and the wily Scot must now find emergency cover.

Promising stopper Shane Duffy is in contention to start, but Moyes couldn't resist making light of the situation as he joked that himself and his backroom staff might have to come out of retirement to help the cause.

"Myself and Andy Holden [reserve team coach] have both played centre-half over the years," said Moyes, who enjoyed spells at both Celtic and Preston during his playing days.

"We've both put ourselves in the frame this morning when we joined in training and did okay so we're waiting on the manager's decision.

I think we'd quite enjoy it. I know what we would be trying to do in the first 30 seconds, rake our studs down the back of their legs!"

Spurs had better watch out.