Team News
James McCarthy and Gareth Barry will both face late fitness checks ahead of Tuesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough.
The duo picked up knocks in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Bournemouth, with McCarthy withdrawn on 67 minutes with a groin complaint.
And speaking to the media on Monday, boss Roberto Martinez also revealed stand-in skipper Barry had sustained a shin injury despite completing the contest at Dean Court.
He said: "We'll have a clear picture of James McCarthy's injury later today - and also Gareth Barry, who picked up a shin injury."
Meanwhile, Martinez also confirmed Joel Robles would again start for the Blues, having been between the sticks for all previous rounds of the competition this term.
"Joel Robles was Man of the Match in the previous round," he added. "He will start the game tomorrow."
FormMiddlesbrough missed out on promotion to the Premier League at the last hurdle last term, suffering a Play-off Final defeat to Norwich City.
But, currently placed second in the Championship, Boro look to be one of the favourites to return to the top-flight of English football this campaign.
Aitor Karanka’s side have won six of their last 10 fixtures, including a 2-0 away win over Huddersfield at the weekend.
While their form in the league has led them to just two points behind leaders Brighton, Middlesbrough’s Capital One Cup campaign has been just as impressive.
After overcoming League One side Oldham Athletic, Burton Albion and Wolves in previous rounds, Boro were drawn a difficult tie away to Manchester United. The Championship side, however, produced a shock result as they secured a penalty shoot-out victory over the Red Devils to set up a quarter-final tie with the Blues.
Meanwhile, the Toffees haven’t had it easy in the competition having to come from behind in all three of their Capital One Cup ties against Barnsley, Reading and Norwich City respectively.
In the previous round against the Canaries, the tie went all the way to penalties after Leon Osman had cancelled out Sebastian Bassong’s opener in normal time. The Toffees scored all four of their penalties as Joel Robles saved one effort from Wes Hoolahan and Lewis Grabban missed a vital fifth to put Everton in the quarter-finals of the League Cup for only the second time in 28 years.
Last Meeting – Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough, Sunday 8 March 2009
The last meeting between these two sides was in fact another cup quarter-final and the Blues will be hoping for a similar result to the one back in 2009 when they visit the Riverside on Tuesday evening.
Everton came from behind against Middlesbrough to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since they won the competition in 1995.
David Moyes’ side trailed at the interval after a David Wheater header put the visitors ahead but the introduction of Louis Saha inspired a second-half turnaround at Goodison Park. Tim Cahill provided the cross for a Marouane Fellaini equaliser on 49 minutes, before Saha notched the winner just five minutes later to send the hosts to Wembley.
Key Man: David Nugent
A boyhood Evertonian, David Nugent completed a £4million move from Leicester City in the summer.
Nugent, who has also had spells at Bury, Preston, Portsmouth and Burnley, penned a three-year contract with Middlesbrough having signed for Leicester in 2011.
The striker made 32 appearances for the Foxes last season, scoring five goals and Nugent has nearly overhauled that tally having scored four goals for Boro so far this campaign.
The 30-year-old has earned one cap for England and it was a memorable one for Nugent as he netted on his debut in a Euro Qualifier against Andorra in March 2007.