As if defeat by Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup third round was not bad enough, David Moyes, the Everton manager, has more worries before his team’s Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

Moyes has serious concerns over the fitness of Joseph Yobo, the defender, and Tim Cahill, the midfield player, both of whom have missed Everton’s past two games with foot and knee injuries respectively.

With Leon Osman already ruled out through injury, Mikel Arteta suspended and Steven Pienaar away with South Africa at the African Cup of Nations, Moyes looks likely to have to field a second-string midfield against Chelsea.

The absence of Yobo would be particularly galling for Moyes because the centre back, along with Yakubu Ayegbeni, the striker, had been given permission by the Nigerian FA to join up late with the national squad so that they could play against the League Cup holders.

Tim Howard, the goalkeeper, and Phil Neville, the captain, both of whom were rested against Oldham, and Joleon Lescott, the defender, and Yakubu, neither of whom started the game, will return against Chelsea.

“I don’t know if I’ll have to lift the lads, but I hope we get a reaction,” Moyes said. Alan Stubbs, the defender, added: “We won’t have a problem raising ourselves. If we do, then we really have problems.”