EVERTON boss Brian Sorensen is targeting a deep FA Cup run despite financial constraints facing both the Toffees’ men’s and women’s first teams.

Defender Nathalie Bjorn’s departure for Women’s Super League and FA Cup holders Chelsea was announced Wednesday and Sorensen admitted Everton do not “have the funds available” to directly replace her in this transfer window.

At the same time, his side have nearly fully bounced back from the injury crisis that has plagued the first half of their league campaign, a boost Sorensen hopes will help Everton find their way past Aston Villa in Saturday’s fourth-round cup contest.

The ex-Fortuna Hjorring coach said: “It’s the whole club. We’re building a new stadium and so on and that costs a lot of money.

“I’m from Denmark. Two or three of the players that we have are getting paid a year what I had in my whole budget, and we were still able to compete in the Champions League and so on so it’s just about finding ways to get around it.

“[The FA Cup] is where we can do something and get closer to playing a big semi-final or final, and everything is decided on the day so we will do absolutely everything in our power to go through.”

Villa boss Carla Ward revealed defender Lucy Parker will undergo surgery for an ankle injury which will likely see her miss the majority of the season in what Ward called a “massive blow” to her ninth-placed WSL side.

There was better news in the arrival of central defender Noelle Maritz, who joined from Arsenal on a two-and-a-half-year deal last week and could make her debut in the cup clash.

Ward said: “Noelle’s a top, top player. She’s been there, she’s done it. She’s been unbelievable at Arsenal, not just in terms of her playing ability but her experience.

“We’re delighted that we’ve managed to get her in because she’ll add a lot of quality and valuable experience to this group.”