David Moyes is still hoping Everton can qualify for the Champions League - but he is not taking European football of any kind for granted.The Toffees are five points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool after losing the Merseyside derby but have a healthy cushion of four points to Portsmouth in sixth.

Everton should collect another victory from Sunday's home clash with relegated Derby, and manager Moyes said: "I still feel we can catch teams above us, the gap may be five points between us and Liverpool, but we have to think that way.

"So I expect clubs who are below us to be looking at where we are and believing still we can be caught."

Following last weekend's disappointing derby defeat, Everton have been away for warm-weather training in Marbella and are ready for one last push.

But it is European competition on a regular basis the club know they must achieve if they are going to be serious contenders for a top-four place in the future.

Whether Everton end up playing in the Champions League or UEFA Cup remains to be seen but veteran defender Lee Carsley is determined to give everything for the cause.

He said: "That is our ultimate goal, to play in Europe every season.

"We have got more than half an eye on fourth place, we have got a full eye on it."

A win over Derby will help Everton bolster their position following three games without a victory.

Carsley added: "We had got a good week of training where we worked on a few things. We cannot keep harping on about the injuries, we have got to worry about the lads who are fit."

But Everton know they cannot afford any more slips having taken only one point from nine since their exit from this season's UEFA Cup at the hands of Fiorentina.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard, a veteran of European campaigns with Manchester United, said: "It is fair to say there is no more room for slip-ups.

"But there will be some more twists and turns to this season, not only with us but with every other club.

"This is a very weird time of the year and it is up to us to make sure we put things right after the last couple of weeks and get our performances back above par."

The USA keeper has been looking back at Everton's progress this season and he insists there is plenty to be positive about.

He continued: "We have to keep it tight at the back like we were, create loads of chances and get back up and running.

"We are right in the thick of it, we know we are. We have got some big games coming up and we are in touching distance.

"That is why we are able to stay positive. We have done so much good work this season, we have done so many good things and worked so hard.

"As long as we do that for the next five or six weeks then we will hopefully reap our rewards."

Everton expect to have striker Andrew Johnson back after a groin injury, while teenager Victor Anichebe has returned to training after spending time in hospital last weekend for tests on a virus.

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