TEAM NEWSRonald Koeman has confirmed Romelu Lukaku is back in training ahead of the visit of Sunderland, while James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas have also recovered from minor knocks.
“Romelu had a little calf problem but has been back in training for the last three days,” he said. “James and Kevin have also trained with the group this week.
Koeman had further positive news when it came to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Muhamed Besic, with both nearing returns to full training.
“Dominic will be back on Tuesday, and then we have Mo who is doing parts of training,” added the manager. “He is in a good way to come back totally as a player in the team.”
Sunderland are without former Blues Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe, who have hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Duncan Watmore, Paddy McNair (both knee) and Lee Cattermole (hip) are all long-term absentees, although the latter is expected to return to training in around four weeks’ time.
Jan Kirchoff is back in training following two months out with torn knee cartilage but won’t feature.
However, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is expected to be fit after recovering from strained knee ligaments sustained in the Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United.
FORMEverton are looking to maintain their eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. In that sequence, the Blues have picked up five wins and three draws, with a record of 19 goals scored and just six conceded.
Their previous outing saw them leave Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium with a point following the 0-0 draw in torrential rain, while the Toffees ran out 6-3 winners over Bournemouth in their last Goodison Park encounter.
Sunderland, meanwhile, head for Merseyside off the back of a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, with just one win in their last 10 league and cup games.
However, last time on their travels, David Moyes' side recorded a thumping 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
KEY MAN – JERMAIN DEFOE
If Sunderland are to haul themselves away from the Premier League drop zone, they will need the goals of former England international Defoe.
The 34-year-old has 14 so far this campaign, and netted 18 to help the Black Cats survive under Sam Allardyce last season. Throughout the 2016/17 campaign, he has boasted a 35 per cent shooting accuracy from 62 shots.
He also has two assists, and is not shy to put a tackle in (16) to help his side defensively.
Defoe has 268 goals from 636 club appearances to date, with 19 strikes in 55 outings for the Three Lions, and has found the back of the net against Everton six times across his career.
PREVIOUS OUTINGSunderland 0-3 Everton, 12 September 2016
Romelu Lukaku banished all mention of the words ‘goal drought’ as he secured three points at the Stadium of Light inside a pulsating 11-minute blitz.
On the hour mark, Idrissa Gana Gueye’s cross was headed home by the Belgian, who nodded in a second from Yannick Bolasie’s centre.
His third arrived on 71 minutes, casually guiding a low shot past Jordan Pickford after latching on to a Kevin Mirallas through-ball.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE – Stuart Attwell
The Warwickshire-based official takes charge of his 21st game of the season when he leads the sides out at Goodison Park on Saturday.
So far, he has issued seven red cards and 69 yellows, and previously oversaw the Toffees’ 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City.
LIVE COVERAGEAs always, there will be free live audio commentary of Saturday’s contest.
Click here to listen to broadcast duo Ian Snodin and Darren Griffiths’ coverage of the action on matchday.
You can also get involved in the broadcast by tweeting in your shout-out requests, comments and questions to
Everton using the hashtag #EFCLive.
In addition to our live commentary, look out for the live blog which will bring you updates, imagery, video and team news from the Grand Old Lady. Head to the match centre, the official App or the evertonfc.com homepage on matchday to find it.
Everton FC