With the injury crisis which crippled the first team having abated in 2010 the Toffees' form has picked up, particularly at home where they are currently nine games unbeaten at Goodison Park. And Neville believes it is no coincidence the return to fitness of the likes of Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka has lifted the side. "Since Christmas we have had 22 players training - we have had two players vying for every position and that ups the quality of the training and, as a result, the performance levels on a matchday," he said. "Everybody knew the ability in the squad but in the first half of the season we had major injuries, there was a lack of competition and when you only have 11 players training it is not a good recipe. "In the first half of the season, we were feeling a little sorry for ourselves with so many people out injured. Mikel was out, Phil Jagielka was out, I was out, Victor Anichebe out. We had all these long-term injuries but then, all of a sudden, three or four start coming back into training and the confidence came back into the team."
