Moyes hopes for return of injured trio

Everton manager David Moyes is hoping some of his injured players will be fit enough to return to action in the Premier League clash with Stoke on Sunday.

The Scot had been optimistic midfielder Jack Rodwell (rib) and defenders Phil Neville (hamstring) and Sylvain Distin (groin) would be in contention for last weekend’s victory over Bolton but they all missed out.

Apostolos Vellios scored his third goal for the club as a substitute at the Reebok Stadium and is pushing for a start.

Provisional squad: Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Osman, Drenthe, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Barkley, Saha, Vellios, Mucha, Mustafi, Stracqualursi, McFadden, Gueye, Distin, Neville, Rodwell.