Everton vs Stoke City preview - Moyes sweating on fitness of trio - 7M sport

Everton vs Stoke City preview - Moyes sweating on fitness of trio



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Posted Sunday, December 04, 2011 by PA

Everton manager David Moyes is hoping some of his injured players will be fit enough to return to action in the Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke on Sunday.

The Scot had been optimistic midfielder Jack Rodwell (rib) and defenders Phil Neville (hamstring) and Sylvain Distin (groin) would be in contention for last weekend's victory over Bolton but they all missed out.

Apostolos Vellios scored his third goal for the club as a substitute at the Reebok Stadium and is pushing for a start.

The Toffees will remember a gentleman and a dedicated professional when they pay tribute to former player Gary Speed, manager David Moyes said on Friday.

A number of Speed's former team-mates will be at Goodison Park on Sunday to take part in a minute's applause ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke.

Speed, who played more than 50 games for Everton between 1996 and 1998, was found hanged last Sunday at the age of 42.

Moyes said of the Wales manager: "We were all extremely shocked when we heard about it, the whole of football has been. I think it's something that has rocked everybody. It's had an effect on a lot of people in football, probably because we don't know the answers and the reasons for it."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will shuffle his pack again for the trip.

The Welshman made eight changes from the side that beat Blackburn last weekend for the 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League and most of the players he rested are likely to come back in.

Andy Wilkinson (calf and knee) remains a doubt while Jonathan Woodgate, who is ineligible in Europe, returns to the squad.

Pulis has urged Stoke's fans not to get impatient as they once again attempt to follow a successful European night by picking up points in the Barclays Premier League.

The Potters became the first English side to book their place in the last 32 of the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kiev, taking their record in the competition to seven wins and two draws from nine games.

The travelling has certainly had a detrimental effect on their domestic form, with Stoke having lost their last four away games, all of which have followed European matches.

The most disappointing performance came after the trip to face Maccabi Tel Aviv last month, when they were thrashed 5-0 by Bolton, and Pulis knows they will need to put in a much better showing to get anything at Everton.

He said: "It's important we put a performance in at Everton. It will be tough because they're on a good run at the moment. But we must not get too greedy. We've got to keep our feet on the ground. At times (on Thursday night) one or two of the supporters were getting restless. We need to remind them and remind everybody where we've come from and in such a short space of time.

"Yes you want to win and you want your team to win but we're doing things this football club has never done before. We've got to keep putting things into perspective, stop the bus now and then and look around and smell the roses."



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