Bournemouth vs EvertonPremier League
Vitality Stadium
3pm kick-off
TEAM NEWSWayne Rooney has returned from illness to boost Sam Allardyce’s attack, while Yannick Bolasie has shown no ill effect from his first senior outing in 12 months against West Brom on Tuesday.
Allardyce has revealed James McCarthy is available for selection but the trip to the Vitality Stadium could come too soon for Idrissa Gana Gueye who will be assessed.
Ross Barkley has been training regularly with the first team but is yet to be available, and Leighton Baines has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf strain.
Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori remain long-term absentees.
For Bournemouth, Jermain Defoe, Tyrone Mings and Brad Smith will be absent, while Junior Stanislas, Andrew Surman, Harry Arter and Charlie Daniels are doubtful.
FORMSam Allardyce will be hoping to maintain his unbeaten start to life as Everton boss at the Vitality Stadium.
The Blues head into the clash having recorded five wins and three draws in their past eight outings, with six clean sheets recorded in that period.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are currently nine games without a win - but they did record a last-gasp equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw with West Ham United last time out.
The Cherries currently occupy 18th place in the Premier League table but know a win against the Toffees could see them climb as high as 13th.
LAST TIMEOumar Niasse was the hero as Everton came from behind to win in the corresponding fixture back in September.
Trailing to Joshua King’s early second half strike, the Senegalese striker was introduced from the bench soon after the Cherries had opened the scoring.
Niasse rifled home the leveller in emphatic fashion following a neat move he started, before bundling in the winner on 81 minutes.
Everton’s last trip to the Vitality Stadium was less favourable, though, with Junior Stanislas netting the only goal of the game in September 2016.
ONE TO WATCH: CALLUM WILSON
Wilson earned Bournemouth a valuable point with a last-gasp equaliser against West Ham United on Boxing Day.
A pacy striker who is also strong in the air, Wilson has been desperately unlucky with injuries in the past two years, missing more than a year’s worth of action after suffering two separate anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
But things are looking up for the 25-year-old, who has netted five goals in 12 appearances this term and he believes he can be the man to fire Bournemouth to safety.
“I am confident I can be the main goal threat,” said Wilson, after scoring against West Ham. “I have been here for three years scoring consistently so would always back myself to be playing.
“If you get chances and don’t take them, you have to put up your hand as a striker. I want to be first choice on the teamsheet.
“That is what you work towards in your performances to make sure the manager selects you for every game and gives you the opportunity to play and help the team.
“If I didn’t think I could score the goals to keep the club up, I wouldn’t be a Premier League player.
“You always have to believe in your ability, back yourself and be confident. You need to remain focussed and keep going whether you are missing chances or not getting them at all.”
MAN IN THE MIDDLE: LEE PROBERT
Gloucestershire-born official Probert has refereed 16 games in total this campaign, with eight of those coming in the Premier League.
The 45-year-old has handed out 26 yellow cards and four red cards in that time, his last dismissal coming earlier this month when he sent off Watford’s Marvin Zeegelaar in the Hornets’ 1-0 defeat to Burnley.
He also sent off Bournemouth’s Simon Francis in the Cherries’ 4-0 home win over Huddersfield Town back in November.
The last time Probert took charge of an Everton match was when a young Blues side took on Cheltenham Town in the Checkatrade Trophy last season.
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