Everton manager David Moyes has handed exciting teenage prospect Ross Barkley a Premier League debut in today’s opener against QPR.
The highly-rated youngster has featured throughout pre-season and today gets his first taste of the big time.
Barkley becomes the 11th 17-year-old to play for Everton in the Premier League – the most for any club – and is joined in midfield by John Heitinga, Leon Osman, and Jack Rodwell.
Tim Cahill will push on and support Jermaine Beckford in attack, while at the back, Tim Howard keeps goal behind a familiar back four of Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Leighton Baines.
Moyes has decided Marouane Fellaini, Mikel Arteta and Louis Saha are only fit enough for the bench and they are joined by Jan Mucha, Tony Hibbert, Victor Anichebe and Apostolos Vellios.
QPR have made four changes to the side battered by Bolton last week with Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Patrick Agyemang and Akos Buzsacky all coming into the starting line-up.
The Blues are of course without Seamus Coleman (ankle ligaments), who was injured in pre-season action against Villarreal.
Dinyar Bilyaletdinov misses out as well. The Russian is suspended for the first two Premier League matches of the Blues’ campaign following a red card against West Brom in the penultimate match of last season.
The visitors are also depleted through suspension with defender Clint Hill ruled out. New signing Kieron Dyer collected a foot injury against the Trotters and drops out of the Hoops squad.