Barclays Premier League preview: Everton v Middlesbrough
Published 12:14 14/11/08 By By Mirror.co.uk
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Everton team news
Ayegbeni Yakubu should return to the Everton starting line-up for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash against former club Middlesbrough after recovering from a heel injury.
The striker missed the 3-1 victory over West Ham last week with the complaint but manager David Moyes has confirmed he is back to full fitness.
Midfielder Steven Pienaar also returns following an ankle problem and Marouane Fellaini will replace Jack Rodwell after completing a one-match suspension.
Squad (from): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Cahill, Rodwell, Vaughan, Fellaini, Osman, Yakubu, Saha, Hibbert, Anichebe, Baines, Nash, Castillo, Jutkiewicz, Gosling.
Middlesbrough team news
Manager Gareth Southgate is ready to name an unchanged Middlesbrough side for Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Everton.
With top scorer Mido struggling to overcome a frustrating groin injury and Justin Hoyte impressing at right-back in last weekend's 2-1 win at Aston Villa, the Boro boss has no compelling reasons to shuffle his pack.
That would mean David Wheater making do with a place on the bench for the second match running, which could seriously hamper his hopes of winning an England call-up ahead of Wednesday's friendly in Germany.
Team (from): Turnbull, Hoyte, Taylor, Riggott, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Digard, Aliadiere, Downing, Tuncay, Alves, Jones, Wheater, Grounds, Arca, Walker, Johnson A, Emnes.
The New Football Pools pundits' predictions
John Barnes: Home win
Tony Cascarino: Home win
Graham Poll: Draw
Opta match facts
Middlesbrough have failed to score in their last four Premier League visits to Goodison Park.
Boro have not won a league game at Goodison Park since May 2000.
Yakubu has scored four goals in six Premier League appearances against former club Middlesbrough but all of them came in one game, for Portsmouth in 2004.
Everton have scored goals in the last 10 minutes of each of the last three Premier League games.
Everton have scored eight headed goals, more than any other team.
The Toffees will be looking to win four league games in a row for the first time since March 2008.
Boro are unbeaten in their last four league games, their best run since February this year.
Boro are the only Premier League team to have lost two away games after leading this season.
Marouane Fellaini has conceded a foul every 20.5 minutes this season, a faster rate than any other player in the Premier League.
Mido has scored four goals for Boro this season but the team has averaged more points per game (1.75) and more goals per game (1.25) without the Egyptian.
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