Everton skipper Phil Neville admits the festive period will prove decisive for their season.

Premier League newcomers Norwich and Swansea provide their next two opponents with strugglers Sunderland, West Brom and Bolton to follow.

"The Christmas period is vital as we have six games in a short period of time," said Neville.

"It's an opportunity to pick up points and make inroads into the league, so you can secure your place in the league and then hopefully start to look forwards and upwards.

"We are playing teams in and around us and we need to pick up points and win games because I don't think draws are good enough in this league.

"We are probably down to bare bones in terms of our squad but hopefully we'll get a couple of players back and look at this Christmas period as a way of getting some confidence back, get some points on the board and hopefully start a charge up the league."