Everton took Manuel Fernandes on loan last season, and during that short time he showed the world his immaculate skills. He scored two goals in nine appearances and Everton took pains to try to sign him permanently despite the possible legal wrangle of Global Sports Investment's involvement as they owned 50 per cent of the player's playing rights and Benfica 50 per cent.

But Fernandes went on to break the hearts of Evertonians when it was announced that he was moving to Valencia, even after he had gone through the medical test and had also trained with the team last week.

Everton will feel hard done by but it will be interesting to see what effect the departure of Fernandes has. The team are currently in the top half of the Premier League and have also been pretty successful in the transfer market with the signing of Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, on-loan Steven Pienaar and Stefan Wessel.

However, they still need more than one playmaker. Mikel Arteta has been a revelation ever since he joined in 2005. But whenever he is marked out of a game, such as at Reading, it shows how much another creative midfielder is needed. Leon Osman has been given the opportunity to play the role where he could switch flanks with Arteta to confuse the defence. But more often than not, Osman seems to be out-muscled by bigger defenders and has been inconsistent in his play.

With the FA and Carling Cups and coveted UEFA Cup games, Everton have a long season ahead. But with such a small squad, they cannot do a Chelsea or Liverpool where players can be rotated. Rest Arteta and the probability of defeat increases. Do not rest him and the probability of him getting injured also increases.

Pienaar made his debut in the win against Wigan Athletic, but he only showed glimpses of his skill and his performance was far from convincing. Maybe he had the first-match jitters but he will need more than just a couple of matches to acclimatise to the fast-paced Premiership.