Everton v Stoke preview

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Everton manager David Moyes is hoping some of his injured players will be fit enough to return to action against the Potters.

The Scot had been optimistic midfielder Jack Rodwell (rib) and defenders Phil Neville (hamstring) and Sylvain Distin (groin) would be in contention for last weekend’s victory over Bolton but they all missed out.

Apostolos Vellios scored his third goal for the club as a substitute at the Reebok Stadium and is pushing for a start.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will shuffle his pack again .

The Welshman made eight changes from the side that beat Blackburn last weekend for Thursday night’s 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League, and most of the players he rested are likely to come back in.

Andy Wilkinson (calf and knee) remains a doubt while Jonathan Woodgate, who is ineligible in Europe, returns to the squad.

Everton (from): Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Osman, Drenthe, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Barkley, Saha, Vellios, Mucha, Mustafi, Stracqualursi, McFadden, Gueye, Distin, Neville, Rodwell.

Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Nash, Huth, Upson, Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson, Wilkinson, Whelan, Whitehead, Diao, Etherington, Walters, Jerome, Shotton, Arismendi, Pennant, Delap, Crouch, Palacios, Jones, Higginbotham, Fuller.

Everton v Stoke preview

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Everton manager David Moyes will make a late decision on Mikel Arteta’s availability.

Midfielder Arteta, who missed last week’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham with a slight hamstring strain, will undergo a fitness test tomorrow.

Moyes concedes the game comes “too soon” for Jack Rodwell who is closing in on a return after two months out with an ankle injury, meaning he remains on the sidelines alongside Leon Osman (ankle), Marouane Fellaini (hamstring), Ross Barkley (broken leg) and Victor Anichebe (knee).

Tony Pulis hopes Kenwyne Jones and Jermaine Pennant will have recovered from a virus in time to face the Toffees.

Winger Pennant and striker Jones both played in the midweek Carling Cup tie at West Ham despite suffering from flu-like symptoms and were given yesterday off in a bid to speed their recovery.

Striker Mamady Sidibe is Stoke’s only long-term absentee, although Matt Etherington, Danny Collins and Ricardo Fuller missed the Upton Park match.

Etherington and Collins are certain to return, while Fuller will be given every chance to prove his fitness.

Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Hibbert, Cahill, Arteta, Beckford, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Coleman, Yakubu, Mustafi, Silva, Baxter, Wallace, Mucha, Pienaar, Saha.

Stoke (from): Sorensen, Begovic, Huth, Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Diao, Wilson, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Pennant, Walters, Fuller, Jones, Gudjohnsen, Tuncay.