Everton debut for Valente

Full-back Nuno Valente made his debut for Everton in the Barclays Premiership clash with Portsmouth at Goodison, less than 24 hours after arriving for his first training session.

Another new boy, Matteo Ferrari – on loan from Roma – was on the bench along with James Beattie, who has not played since the opening day of the season with a toe injury.

Portsmouth dropped former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld after a string of mistakes so far this term and included Jamie Ashdown in goal, while another former Anfield player, Salif Diao, was given a debut alongside veteran Brazilian Dario Silva.

Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Nuno Valente, Davies, Arteta, Cahill, Kilbane, Bent, Ferguson. Subs: Wright, Beattie, McFadden, Ferrari, Osman.

Portsmouth: Ashdown, Priske, O’Brien, Stefanovic, Vignal, O’Neil, Hughes, Diao, Robert, LuaLua, Silva. Subs: Westerveld, Griffin, Karadas, Viafara, Vukic.

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire)