Everton v Hull CityPremier League
Goodison Park
3pm kick-off
TEAM NEWSLeighton Baines has overcome his back complaint and should be available to play against Hull City this weekend.
The left-back was substituted at half-time in last weekend’s 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion, with Ramiro Funes Mori stepping off the bench to take his place.
Baines was able to resume his work at USM Finch Farm on Thursday and is expected to be fit for Saturday when Everton go in search of a sixth successive home league win.
“Leighton trained this morning,” Koeman said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. “Normally he would be available for the weekend. We still have the same players out.”
Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic’s long-term knee injuries mean the pair remain unavailable for selection, as does James McCarthy who has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury.
FORMEverton enter Saturday’s clash in terrific form at Goodison. A maximum haul of 15 points from the past five league fixtures has included 18 goals.
The 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last time out also was also a sixth clean sheet in the past nine matches, dating back to the start of January.
Hull City travel to Goodison in fine fettle, too. Marco Silva’s arrival as manager at the turn of the year sparked a mini-revival, with the Tigers beating Bournemouth, Liverpool and Swansea City since the Portuguese’s appointment.
Hull are, however, still placed in the relegation zone, a point adrift of 17th-placed Crystal Palace.
LAST MEETING: Hull City 2-2 Everton, Friday 30 December 2016
Ross Barkley headed in a late equaliser for Everton against Hull when the two sides met at the KCOM Stadium in December.
The home side had taken the lead after just six minutes through captain Michael Dawson, who smashed in his third league goal of the season.
In response, Seamus Coleman headed against the post, before the Toffees levelled on the stroke of half-time as goalkeeper David Marshall punched the ball into his own net from Kevin Mirallas' corner.
Marshall brilliantly tipped Romelu Lukaku's drive on to the crossbar in the second half, then Robert Snodgrass curled a free-kick into the top corner, having struck the bar from a similar situation just minutes before.
Barkley notched an equaliser with six minutes remaining, before substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned a late chance to win it for Ronald Koeman’s side, diverting a header inches wide of the post.
ONE TO WATCH: KAMIL GROSICKI
Signed on deadline day in January from French club Rennes, Kamil Grosicki has made an eye-catching start to his Hull City career.
The 28-year-old right winger starred for Poland at Euro 2016, helping Adam Nawałka’s side to the quarter-finals before eventually being knocked out on penalties to eventual winners Portugal.
His arrival at the KCOM Stadium has coincided with the Tigers’ upturn in form, with Grosicki playing a key role in wins over Liverpool, Arsenal and Swansea City in recent weeks.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE: PAUL TIERNEY
The Lancashire-based official will be taking charge of his first Everton match of the season - the last time he took charge of a game involving the Blues was last season’s 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Dagenham & Redbridge.
In all competitions, Tierney has officiated 25 games so far in 2016/17, with his most recent Premier League outing being Southampton’s 4-0 away win over Sunderland last month.
He has shown 88 yellow cards and three red cards this campaign.
LIVE COVERAGE!
As always, there will be free live audio commentary of Saturday’s contest here on evertonfc.com.
Click here to listen to broadcast duo Ian Snodin and Darren Griffiths’s coverage of the action on matchday.
Get involved in the broadcast on Saturday by tweeting in your shout-out requests using #EFCLive.
In addition to our live commentary, look out for our live blog which will bring you updates, imagery, video and team news from Goodison. Head to the match centre, the official App or the evertonfc.com homepage on matchday to find it.
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