David Moyes insists that Everton are still working hard to bring players in before the transfer deadline on Monday but are being hampered by PSR restrictions. The Blues issued injury updates on Orel Mangala and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Thursday after the pair were both forced off in last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference to preview Saturday’s home game with Leicester City, Moyes said: “It’s an incredible, big blow to us to lose two players. The one thing that did come out for us was to take three points out of the game was the real positive.

“The blow was to lose the two players for quite a long period by the looks of it. But we have to go on, that’s what happens, football clubs do get injuries and you have to find other ways of getting results with players stepping up and showing what they can do.

READ MORE: 'It's changed a lot' - Iliman Ndiaye gives blunt verdict on Everton after David Moyes appointment

READ MORE: Iliman Ndiaye makes Everton training ground point as youngster takes part after injury nightmare

“I believe that Orel Mangala will go back. If think we’re waiting for the surgeon to clear it and I think he’ll be operated on in France as far as I know.

“Dom isn’t as bad. Dom doesn’t need any surgery, he’s been checked so from that point of view, it’s not a good injury but it’s maybe not quite as bad as we first feared when we got it.

“From that point of view, we’re hoping that might not be as long as we first expected.”

Asked if he therefore thought Calvert-Lewin could play again for Everton this season, Moyes responded: “Absolutely, yes,” but added: “The injuries show we have even more reason to think that we have to bring in some players. We know, so it’s not that we don’t do that.

“It’s just so difficult to get players in that we want. Overall, we’re very sad for both players.”

Moyes was then asked whether he was confident over bringing in new additions to his squad before the deadline passes. He said: “Confident at the moment has become difficult because it’s certainly not for the want of trying behind the scenes. For all the Evertonians, we’re really out there trying to find things that we can bring in.

“Undoubtedly, we’re still hampered by PSR. I’m really jealous of a lot of teams that can attempt to go for a lot of expensive prices at the moment as we’re not quite there.

“We don’t want to get ourselves in a position we were in before with points deductions etcetera. We have to be really mindful of what we do and all I can say is I hope the supporters all understand that and go with us.

“We hope to bring in some players but maybe it’s not the ones if we really had the money we’d be trying to do.”

In terms of the PSR issues that continue to curb spending, the Blues boss added: “I’ve got to say I’ve been really surprised in the way it’s restricting the football club here. Everton’s a huge football club and it should be competing with many of the big clubs in country here that we’ve got and hopefully spending in a way in which it’s challenging for the big players who are out there and available. There’s not that many in January to be honest.

“I’m just beginning to see it myself. I’m just beginning to look at it and know a little bit more about the PSR.

“We’ve still got a little bit of work to do with that. It’s hindering us maybe going ‘what does David Moyes really want?’ and what do I really want to bring to Everton just now is not really what I can do. But I know that I have to find a way to get players in to hopefully contribute in some way.

“But as a manager, you always want to sign the best players you possibly can. I want to sign people who I think the supporters will be excited by and would love to come and see.

“Just at the moment, we’re all a bit hindered by what’s left over. But we’re nearly there.

“We’ve got good, new owners in who I feel will change that. But maybe not until the summer.”