McCarthy to name unchanged side

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy will retain the team which drew 0-0 with Bolton on Boxing Day as he looks for a first Barclays Premiership victory of the season at the Stadium of Light against Everton.

That means Nyron Nosworthy, who is back from a one-match ban, and the fit-again Alan Stubbs (calf) and Tommy Miller (hamstring) will have to make do with seats on the bench at best.

Stephen Wright (thigh) and Stephen Elliott (back) remain on the sidelines, while Kevin Kyle (hip cartilage) is back in training and targeting a reserve team game next month.

Provisional squad: Davis, Alnwick, Nosworthy, Hoyte, D. Collins, Caldwell, Breen, Stubbs, Bassila, Whitehead, Arca, Lawrence, Miller, Woods, Gray, Stead, Le Tallec, D.Murphy.