Match Preview: Spurs v Everton

After an eventful week on and off the pitch, Everton return to league action with a trip to White Hart Lane for this weekend’s Saturday night football.

The Blues made hard work of their Capital One Cup tie at Barnsley on Wednesday, eventually progressing as 5-3 winners after extra time.

Roberto Martinez is expected to make a number of changes to the eleven that started proceedings at Oakwell, reverting back to a more familiar league outfit as the Toffees return to their tough league schedule.

Bryan Oviedo is set to start at left back for the Blues, as youngster Brendan Galloway remains a doubt due to a knee injury picked up in the first half against City.

After having his transfer request rejected, John Stones is expected to carry on his involvement in every minute of Everton’s season so far, partnering captain Phil Jagielka at the heart of defence.

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Martinez has been firm throughout the transfer window, insisting the defender is not for a sale and speaking in his press conference earlier today, the Spaniard said: “It’s been an emotional time for everyone but John is one of our most loved assets and he’ll be ready to face Tottenham.

“We are the perfect environment and the perfect place, as we have been in the last two seasons for John. We need to be a winning team and be delighted that we have John with us.

“John will be an incredible part of that process and we are all excited. John is looking forward to the next game now.”

Elsewhere, ex-Tottenham transfer targets James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas are both expected to feature from the off for Everton, while Seamus Coleman will slot back into the starting eleven at right-back.

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Gerard Deulofeu will be hoping his Man of the Match cameo against Barnsley is enough to earn him his first start for Everton this season, however despite registering three assists from the bench, there are still doubts about the Spaniard’s match sharpness.

Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku will be looking to continue their fine starts to the season, while Tom Cleverley, Steven Naismith, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic, Tim Howard, Leon Osman and Arouna Kone are all set to feature in Everton’s match day squad.

Leighton Baines (ankle), Darron Gibson (foot), Tony Hibbert (knee) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) are all still out for the Blues.

Meanwhile, the hosts are without a competitive league win since defeating Everton on the last day of the Premier League season last term round.

Spurs will be without star man Christian Eriksen (knee), but Andros Townsend could return after overcoming an ankle knock.

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Mauricio Pochettino believes the clash comes too soon for new signings Clinton Njie and Heung-Min Son.

Striker Harry Kane will be hoping to find his scoring boots again by netting for the first time since ending his emphatic goalscoring campaign at Goodison in May.

My chosen Everton line-up (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Oviedo; McCarthy Cleverley; Mirallas Barkley, Deulofeu; Lukaku.