Toffees hopeful over Hibbert

Everton hope to have full-back Tony Hibbert available for the Barclays Premiership visit of Arsenal to Goodison Park on Sunday, having missed the last two matches with a groin problem.

But there is less chance of fellow full-back Nuno Valente being available despite making progress to recover from a calf injury.

Everton are still without James McFadden, Tim Cahill and Andy van der Meyde, and boss David Moyes must decide whether to play with just one striker – Andrew Johnson – up front and pack his midfield, or continue with either James Beattie or youngster James Vaughan in attack.

Everton provisional squad: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Naysmith, Arteta, Fernandes, Neville, Carsley, Osman, Beattie, Vaughan, Johnson, Wright, Anichebe, De Silva.