Carsley back for Everton

Everton had Lee Carsley back in their defence after missing last weekend’s defeat at Fulham while midfielder and top scorer Tim Cahill recovered from a back injury to play in the club’s final home league game of the season.

Skipper Alan Stubbs, after fears that his season was over following a shoulder injury, was back on the bench for a match, if Everton won, would all but make sure of Champions League football next season.

Newcastle started the season believing such an achievement was within them as well but they are struggling to get out of the bottom half of the table and their midweek victory at Fulham ended a seven-match winless run. Alan Shearer returned to the bench while Jermaine Jenas and Celestine Babayaro were back in the starting line-up.

Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Watson, Carsley, Bent, Cahill, Arteta, Kilbane, Ferguson. Subs: Wright, Pistone, Stubbs, Beattie, McFadden.

Newcastle: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro, Ambrose, N’Zogbia, Jenas, Milner, Ameobi, Kluivert. Subs: Andrew O’Brien, Shearer, Harper, Robert, Ramage.

Referee: B Knight (Kent)