Everton ManCity preview

The Blues should be boosted by the return of Micah Richards to the bench, with a decision being taken after he trains on Friday.

But Pablo Zabaleta and Nigel de Jong are expected to shake off knocks and play, while Carlos Tevez appears to be winning his battle to be fit for the clash with Spurs.

But Everton, staging their traditional late-season surge of form, also have players returning, not least Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta, who have both been the scourge of City in recent seasons.

Defender John Heitinga is also back in contention.

Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha (both ankle) are the only major absentees having been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Everton (from): Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Neville, Cahill, Rodwell, Arteta, Osman, Anichebe, Beckford, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Heitinga, Mustafi, Duffy, Vellios, Mucha.

Manchester City (from): Hart, Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Boyata, Wright-Phillips, Y Toure, De Jong, Vieira Milner, Barry, Johnson, Silva, Dzeko, Balotelli, Jo, McGivern.