The Toffees have finished in the top 10 six times in the last eight seasons but only once – in 2005 – did they make it into the top four.

Moyes has never had as much to spend on his squad as many of his top-flight rivals but Pienaar hopes that will be able to change in the future.

“I think the quality is here at the club,” said the 28-year-old. “The only problem, like everyone seems to know, is the money issue – we need more players. Hopefully that will change in the next few years and the team can go on to challenge.”

As a result of their recent struggles there has been some speculation about the future of Moyes and whether his time at Goodison Park, approaching nine years, had run its course.

However, Pienaar – whose own future at the club is less certain as he has yet to sign an extension to his contract which expires in the summer – believes the Scot can go on to achieve greater things in management.

“I think he’s a workaholic, he works around the clock, and I think he deserves the two [manager of the year] awards he got,” he told fifa.com.

“I think there is a lot more he will achieve and I think he will become one of the best managers in the world – I’ve never seen a coach work as hard as him.”

On his own situation Pienaar said: “I’ve not enjoyed my football more than this before.”