Everton boss David Moyes was delighted with the performance of Ayegbeni Yakubu after the striker continued his return from injury against Aston Villa.

Yakubu was sidelined for almost a year with a ruptured Achilles tendon but made his second start of the week in the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

The Nigerian, who had a hand in Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's opener for the Toffees, completed 90 minutes before being replaced by Jo in stoppage time.

"Yak is definitely showing signs of getting back," Moyes said.

"The injury was a nine-month injury, but it might take another nine months to get back to the level that you were at.

"With a ruptured Achilles you have to try and get the elasticity back into it and that doesn't just come at the end of the nine months.

"That comes with games and jumping and twisting and turning, but I can see bits of sharpness coming.

"I've got to say he's doing well. I'm pleased that his recovery is going in the right direction and he is looking more like the old Yak."

Bilyaletdinov had given Everton the lead in first half stoppage-time before substitute John Carew levelled for Villa two minutes after the break.

The result halted a run of three consecutive defeats for the Toffees, who still have a host of players unavailable through injury.

Moyes admitted that the circumstances had been testing but praised the battling spirit of his team.

"The one thing Everton have got is resilience but we are introducing half a dozen players who might have come from clubs where they aren't resilient," Moyes said.

"I have had to try and get that into them quickly and make them recognise and realise what we want and demand from them.

"It is hard in the short term and when you play Thursday then Sunday and you are not getting much chance to prepare.

"But that's the job and I'm sure we will get it soon.

"I thought there were a few who were like that - a bit tougher, a bit meaner who were trying to make sure we didn't give too much away."

After the three matches between Everton and Villa produced 15 goals last year, Saturday's encounter was a more bruising affair which came to life in the dying minutes with a red card for each side.

Bilyaletdinov was given his marching orders for a challenge on Stiliyan Petrov before Cuellar, who had earlier been booked, received a second yellow card for upending Yakubu despite clearly winning the ball.

Martin O'Neill appeared to pull off a masterstroke in putting on goalscorer Carew for James Milner at half-time, but the Villa manager admitted he had done so primarily to retain the physical presence of his side.

"James Milner was struggling a little bit with a calf injury and he continued on manfully until half-time," O'Neill said.

"But with them scoring just before half-time, if it continued in the same vein where there was not as much football being played here as there has been in the recent past between Everton and ourselves, then it was important to match up and try and get a bit of strength."