Distin winning fitness race

Everton defender Sylvain Distin is expected to recover from a minor hamstring problem to face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Fellow centre-back Phil Jagielka will be sidelined for a few weeks with a similar injury but midfielder Gareth Barry returns from a one-match suspension.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard is likely to regain his place at the expense of Joel Robles after also serving a one-game suspension.

Provisional squad: Howard, Coleman, Alcaraz, Distin, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Mirallas, Barkley, Pienaar, Lukaku, Robles, Oviedo, Hibbert, Heitinga, Stones, Osman, Naismith, Jelavic.