Stubbs back for Everton

Everton welcomed back skipper Alan Stubbs after a calf injury and brought Steve Watson into midfield in place of the suspended Lee Carsley as the Goodison Park club went for their third victory in eight days.

The late withdrawal of defender Joseph Yobo from the bench with a knee problem meant that 18-year-old Danny Fox, who can play full-back or centre-half, was included for the first time.

Villa, who had not won on their last three visits to Goodison, included Jloyd Samuel, who had recovered from a shoulder injury that forced him off in the Carling Cup defeat at Burnley in midweek.

Peter Whittingham and Liam Ridgewell, who also faced Burnley, dropped to the bench with Thomas Hitzlsperger and Ulises De La Cruz coming into the starting line up.

Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Pistone, Watson, Gravesen, Cahill, Osman, Kilbane, Bent.

Subs: Wright, Campbell, Ferguson, McFadden, Fox.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Delaney, Samuel, Hendrie, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Solano, Cole, Angel.

Postma, Whittingham, Ridgewell, Luke Moore, Davis.

Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire)