Phil Neville has been out of action for Everton for two months, but manager David Moyes is astonished by the influence his captain still has on the side.

Neville, brought up with good habits from his early career at Manchester United, is working feverishly behind the scenes to make a serious contribution despite his knee injury.

Neville may well not be back in action until Christmas, but Moyes has hailed his influence over the whole squad.

The 32 year-old, who many feel will one day make an outstanding manager, is certainly doing his bit.

And Neville will be helping Moyes behind the scenes again at West Ham.

Moyes said: "It's hard to put into adequate words how good Phil has been during the time he has been out injured.

He's at the away games, on the touchline with them all, he's in the dressing room before and after and at half-time motivating and giving them advice.

"He is showing exactly what we know about him, he's a right good character and is in it for the team and not just for himself."

The Scot added: "He is about everybody succeeding. He is part of a great core to this club.

"That includes Phil, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Tim Cahill and Leon Osman.

"They have been the key to this side for so long, and we have been without most of them for long spells with some still out.

"People like Phil are still trying to be an influence, and it is pleasing for me to them so involved."

Moyes reveals midfielder Arteta, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, expects to be back in the new year.

He went on: "He is still back in Spain, but I have talked to him this week and he is improving and I expect him playing again in the new year."

Everton have a good recent record at the Boleyn Ground, but Moyes was cautious, saying: "West Ham have started to have some good results. They drew with Arsenal, they were 2-0 up at Sunderland and now they have beaten Aston Villa.

"They will like to believe that they are seeing the green shoots of a recovery. We have to try to stop that.

"From our point of view, we are hoping we are starting to improve. When you are not playing well everything is difficult.

"When you are in form, your touch is right, you know what you are doing and it seems a lot easier.

"But when that form is not there it does not do any harm to run a little bit harder and show people how much it matters to you.

"We have got to do that and hopefully get back to the form we know we can produce."

Everton will be without the suspended Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov at West Ham, but striker Louis Saha should be back from a calf injury.

Without a win in seven games, Everton are too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

But Moyes does not put all of their problems down to bad luck. He said: "We have had bad luck, but not all the time. We have to decide when it's luck and not just bad play.

"But we know we need to do better, and not rely on such things as luck.

"There has been signs that we are getting better throughout, but not enough to get us back to where we want to be.

"We need to be positive. West Ham will be a big test, I saw them on Wednesday when they beat Aston Villa and that was a really big result for them. You could see what it meant to the club and the players.

"Gianfranco Zola has done well there since he came in as manager, but I believe his bigger problems are behind the scenes.

"I don't know everything about that, but there is no doubt he has had difficulties and would like to have changed things around a bit more.

"But with (coach) Steve Clarke, they make a good team. They are making a good fist of working with what he has at West Ham and getting the best out of them."