Toffees reserve judgement on Valente

Everton full-back Nuno Valente faces a late fitness test ahead of his side’s trip to Blackburn tomorrow after suffering a dead leg in the opening-day win over Watford.

Boss David Moyes rates the Portugal international “50-50” to recover and will have Joleon Lescott and Gary Naysmith on standby for starting places in case Valente is ruled out.

David Weir is still definitely out with a groin strain, leaving Moyes short of cover at the back, with one option to switch Joseph Yobo to right-back and hand Lescott his debut in the middle.

Team (from): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, Valente, McFadden, Davies, Osman, Arteta, Cahill, Carsley, Kilbane, Johnson, Beattie, Wright, Anichebe, Pistone, Naysmith.