Toffees without midfield pair

Everton will be without suspended duo Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Cahill is serving the second of a three-match ban while Arteta has picked up a one game suspension, but would have been unfit anyway for the Barclays Premiership match with Sir Alex Ferguson’s faltering side because of an ankle injury.

Portuguese full-back Nuno Valente is back in contention after a run-out in the reserves following a hamstring problem, and Everton will wait to assess Nigel Martyn’s recovery from a groin injury that makes him extremely doubtful for the United match. Richard Wright is standing by.

Provisional squad: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Valente, Neville, Osman, Kilbane, Davies, Van der Meyde, Bent, Beattie, Ferguson, McFadden, Martyn, Turner, Kroldrup, Li Tie.