Phil Neville has become the fourth Everton player to suffer a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Manager David Moyes confirmed on Tuesday that Neville needed surgery to repair minor cartilage tears and will be ruled out for a further three or four weeks.

Neville did not go under the knife after he was carried off at Fulham on September 13, but Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka and Victor Anichebe all required second knee operations and have yet to play this season.

‘We’ve had too many,’ said a frustrated Moyes.

Manager David Moyes admits his long injury list has started to get him down after the latest setback to captain Phil Neville.  

The 32-year-old club captain has had to undergo an operation to repair a tear in the cartilage of the knee he injured at Fulham in September. 

Neville appeared to be on the verge of making a first-team comeback but now faces possibly another three weeks on the sidelines.

‘When I knew about the operation I was disappointed because Phil is one of the players we knew was closest to coming back to help us.

‘We have Europe and games next week and a real tough period, and we probably don’t have too many people due back in the near future.’

Neville had set his sights on a return to action against his former club Manchester United last Saturday. Moyes felt that was a realistic target, or at least tonight’s visit to Hull or Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park.

Club captain Phil Neville adds to Everton’s injury woes after aggrevating knee injury | Mail Online