TEAM NEWSJoel Robles is set to be handed another chance to impress in Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
The Spaniard has played in each of the Blues’ four previous ties in the competition this season and is likely to return to the side for the first leg at Goodison, Roberto Martinez has revealed.
The Blues head into the tie with the same squad available from the weekend draw against Tottenham Hotspur after Martinez reported no fresh injury concerns.
Martinez confirmed that James McCarthy will again miss out, with a return to action most likely towards the end of January after the midfielder suffered a reoccurrence of his hip injury.
The manager also reiterated that Phil Jagielka will not be fit enough to start at Goodison on Wednesday and that the skipper has been pencilled in for a comeback against Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, will be without Vincent Kompany and Wilfried Bony (both calf) and Samir Nasri (knee) for the first leg.
FORMEverton battled through the early rounds of the competition, coming from behind to record a 5-3 victory after extra-time at Barnsley in the second round. A trip to Reading then followed, with the Blues again recovering after conceding first, with goals from Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu setting up a fourth round clash with Norwich City.
The Canaries took the lead at Goodison Park, but the Toffees hit back with an equaliser from Leon Osman before seeing off the East Anglians in a penalty shootout.
A trip to Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough stood between Roberto Martinez’s side and a place in the semi-finals. And it was more cup magic from Deulofeu, who provided a goal and an assist, that ensured Everton’s place in the last four.
Manuel Pellegrini has opted for strong sides in the competition so far, with the Citizens scoring 13 goals - against Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Hull City - on their way to the semi-finals.
LAST MEETING: Everton 0-2 Manchester City, Sunday 23 August 2015
Aleksandar Kolarov and Samir Nasri scored second half goals to consign Everton to their first defeat of the 2015/16 season.
City maintained their flawless start to the 2015/16 campaign as Kolarov struck a on the hour mark and Nasri in the dying minutes of a tightly-contested contest that, on another day, could have ended all square.
Both Phil Jagielka and Romelu Lukaku saw efforts graze the woodwork as the Blues went toe-to-toe with their table-topping opponents.
KEY MAN: Kevin De BruyneThe Club-record signing has quickly settled into life at Manchester City after completing a £55 million move from Wolfsburg in the summer.
A Belgium international, De Bruyne netted on his home debut against West Ham United, a strike that has been followed with nine more in all competitions to date. He also struck in City’s vital 2-1 home win over Seville to help Manuel Pellegrini’s side reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
As well as a keen eye for goal, the midfielder has also chipped in with 10 assists, meaning he has been either the goalscorer or provider for 20 goals in his first 21 appearances in a City shirt.