TEAM NEWSRoberto Martinez says he expects midfielder James McCarthy to miss out against the Tigers - but forward Steven Naismith has an "outside chance" of making Wednesday's clash.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Blues boss said: “At the moment it is still too early to tell [with McCarthy]. We are taking each day as it comes. He has shown good signs over the last couple of days and we will keep an eye on him, but I don’t think he will be able to make tomorrow.
“Steven is not far away. I wouldn’t say he is not going to be ready for tomorrow – he has got an outside chance. I will be keeping it until the last second before making a decision.”
Darron Gibson, Antolin Alcaraz and John Stones are Everton's only definite absentees after Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone stepped up their comebacks with action for the Under-21s on Monday.
Hull welcomed back Mo Diame for their trip to Old Trafford on Saturday after the Senegalese midfielder recovered from a knee injury. However, striker Abel Hernandez missed that game as he flew back to Uruguay for the birth of his son.
Hernandez's countryman Gaston Ramirez is suspended after his red card against Spurs last month, while Robert Snodgrass is Hull's only long-term absentee having suffered a dislocated kneecap in August.
FORMHull City will travel to Goodison Park hoping to end a run of four straight defeats and climb away from the Premier League danger zone.
Steve Bruce’s side lie just above the relegation places in 17th position having picked up just 11 points from 13 games, with the Tigers unable to register an away win since the opening day of the season.
However, the month of October saw the 2014 FA Cup finalists record an impressive home victory over Crystal Palace, followed by two creditable away draws at Liverpool and Arsenal.
Everton will be looking to get back to winning ways after an eight-game unbeaten streak came to an end at Spurs on Sunday.
LAST MEETINGHull City 0-2 Everton, Sunday 11 May 2014
Roberto Martinez’s impressive first season as Everton manager was capped off with a 2-0 final-day win over Hull City.
James McCarthy netted his first goal in a Blue shirt early in the contest, before Romelu Lukaku signed off from his loan spell with his 15th strike of the campaign just minutes into the second half.
The win at the KC Stadium cemented a fifth-place finish in the table and ensured Everton ended the season with 72 points – the Club’s highest tally since the title-winning year of 1986/87.
Earlier in the campaign, a goal from Steven Pienaar – just 25 seconds after his introduction from the substitutes’ bench – fired Everton to a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park.
Kevin Mirallas had put the Blues ahead on eight minutes but Yannick Sagbo netted for the visitors before Pienaar marked his return from injury with a dramatic winner.
ONE-TO-WATCH: Mohamed Diame
A former Wigan and West Ham player, Diame has enjoyed an impressive start to his Hull City career since his move to the club in August, scoring four goals in nine appearances and influencing games hugely from midfield.
After spells in France and Spain, Diame was signed for Wigan in 2009 by none other than Roberto Martinez - and it was at the Latics where the Senegal international’s career took off.
After 103 appearances for Wigan, Diame moved to Upton Park in 2012 and quickly became a regular in the Hammers’ side, helping them successfully preserve their Premier League status last season before making the switch to the KC Stadium in the summer.
TICKETSTickets for Wednesday's game are still available. To buy, click
here or call 0871 663 1878. Alternatively, visit the Park End Box Office at Goodison Park, Everton Two in Liverpool One or Ticket Quarter in Queen Square.
