Yakubu dropped by Everton

Everton boss David Moyes has axed £11m capture Ayegbeni Yakubu and made a total of three changes for today’s trip to Aston Villa.

Yakubu disappointed in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with FC Metalist Kharkiv and is replaced by academy product Victor Anichebe.

The fit-again Steven Pienaar and Phil Jagielka come into the midfield department in place of James McFadden and Lee Carsley who, like Yakubu, are relegated to the substitutes’ bench.

Moyes keeps faith with striker Andrew Johnson, despite the England player missing two penalties in the midweek UEFA Cup clash.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill retains the side beaten 1-0 at Manchester City last weekend with striker John Carew continuing to defy a groin problem to play.

Marlon Harewood has recovered sufficiently from his knee injury to be named amongst the substitutes.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Moore, Carew.

Subs: Taylor, Harewood, Davies, Gardner, Maloney.

Everton: Wessels, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Pienaar, Jagielka, Neville, Osman, Anichebe, Johnson.

Subs: Ruddy, McFadden, Nuno Valente, Yakubu, Carsley.

Referee: Lee Probert.