Baines believes the spirit in the squad is such they can get a positive result against Benfica on Thursday night.

Joseph Yobo and Leon Osman are the latest absentees with head and ankle injuries that prevented them travelling to Portugal.

They have joined Steven Pienaar, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan in the treatment room.

If that was not enough Lucas Neill and John Heitinga are ineligible to face one of football's most famous names.

good players

Baines said: "We have been in this situation before of missing key players, played a lot of big games without them and got a lot of success.

"It is something we have faced in the past and it does speak volumes about the character of the players we have. We do help each other. We also have a lot of good players."

Everton are looking for their third successive win in Group I and Baines is relishing the challenge that lies ahead.

He said: "Obviously it was important to get off to a strong start and we have managed to do that.

"With six points on the board we have given ourselves a chance to build on that now.

"This is a special stadium and a famous club. It is a big occasion for us to step out there in front of all our travelling fans. Hopefully we can produce the goods."