THE decision by Steven Pienaar to retire from international football will be greeted warmly by Evertonians.

But in the past Blues have proved adept at reshuffling their resources to overcome international commitments during African Nations Cup seasons – with one notable exception.

During the 2003/04 season, defensive mainstay Joseph Yobo missed seven Everton matches as he helped guide Nigeria to third place in the tournament in Tunisia. Everton lost five of them and drew two.

Otherwise Everton have overcome absences impressively.

During the winter of 2007/08 Yakubu, Steven Pienaar and Yobo were all missing for four games; Everton beat Manchester City 1-0, Wigan 2-1 and drew 0-0 with Spurs and Blackburn – the only hangover being Yakubu returning later than expected from the tournament in Ghana and being fined.

In 1996 Nigerian striker Daniel Amokachi missed three games – Everton beat Leeds and Wimbledon and drew an FA Cup tie with Stockport.

In 2006 Yobo again missed seven games, but this time the Blues won four, drew two and were knocked out of the FA Cup at Chelsea.

But Pienaar is so influential in the current Everton set-up that any prolonged absence would have been mourned.

This winter he could have missed games with Swansea, Southampton, West Brom, Aston Villa and Manchester United – not to mention two rounds of the FA Cup.

Now, fitness permitting, he will be available for what could be a pivotal period of a significant season for the Blues.