Everton could return to the Premier League's top four
with victory at White Hart Lane against Tottenham on Sunday.
If crosstown rivals Liverpool lose at table-toppers
Arsenal on Saturday, Roberto Martinez's side can leapfrog them into fourth with
a win, despite their 4-0 defeat at Anfield last month.
Everton responded from that defeat with a hard-fought 2-1
triumph over Aston Villa last week as goals in the last 20 minutes from Steven
Naismith and Kevin Mirallas saw them record their 300th Premier League win.
Tottenham, who sit sixth, also have top-four ambitions
and have scored in all eight league matches since Tim Sherwood took charge in
December.
And Everton defender Phil Jagielka is looking forward to
the challenge of keeping free-scoring Spurs quiet.
"Pretty much every weekend somebody is going to drop
points (in the race for fourth) because they are playing against another team
who is alongside them," he told the club's official website.
"He (Tottenham boss Sherwood) has gone out and tried
to put a few more attacking players out there, whether that's because of the
squad he has got to choose from or his mentality."
Everton have not won at White Hart Lane since November
2008 but will take encouragement from Tottenham's poor home record this season.
Spurs have won just three of their last 10 league matches
at home and were hammered 5-1 by Manchester City in their last fixture there.
Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw at Hull City last week
but could be boosted by the returns of Andros Townsend and Mousa Dembele from
hamstring and ankle problems respectively.
Midfield pair Erik Lamela (thigh) and Sandro (calf) and
defender Vlad Chiriches (back) are set to remain on the sidelines though.
Seamus Coleman is expected to return from a hamstring
injury for Everton and Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu may also feature after
recovering from the same issue.
Striker Romelu Lukaku (ankle) is tipped to miss and
fellow forward Lacina Traore's hamstring trouble may keep him out.
Traore is yet to play for the club after joining on loan
from Monaco in January.
The meeting between the two sides in November ended in a
goalless stalemate at Goodison Park in a match that was overshadowed by
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris returning to the field despite suffering
concussion.
Culled from Soccerway
