Premiership: Major boost for Smith

The loss to Everton of Welsh international Mark Pembridge with a calf injury should be countered by the return of Scot Gemmill to midfield after five weeks out with a back injury.

Boss Walter Smith will be boosted for the home game with Newcastle by the return of Paul Gascoigne, Joe-Max Moore, Dave Unsworth and Alan Stubbs, who all came through a midweek reserve game unscathed after injuries.

Everton have lost only one League home game this season to Liverpool and are unbeaten in their last three matches, which include impressive home victories over West Ham and Aston Villa.

Everton: Gerrard, Watson, Weir, Pistone, Xavier, Naysmith, Gravesen, Gascoigne, Gemmill, Alexandersson, Radzinski, Ferguson, Campbell, Simonsen, Unsworth, Stubbs, Moore.