Premier League preview: Everton v West Ham

Everton will have to make do without Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar when they host relegation battlers West Ham United on Saturday.

Cahill, Everton’s leading scorer, is still away on international duty with Australia – and will be through the weekend after the Socceroos reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup with a win over Bahrain.

Steven Pienaar’s absence is more permanent, with the Bafana Bafana star sealing a transfer to Tottenham during the week.

After beginning the New Year with a 2-0 loss at Stoke City, Everton have reason to be cheerful following a 2-1 win over Spurs and a 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Toffees occupy 12th place on the Premier League table with 26 points, two points adrift of the top 10 but a mere three points clear of Birmingham City in 16th.

Six points separate 10th-placed Blackpool from Wigan Athletic in the drop zone, and Everton need to ensure they put lesser opponents like West Ham to the sword to keep from plummeting down the table.

West Ham, meanwhile, have much to be concerned about, not the least their return to the bottom of the table following back-to-back losses.

The club’s owners were also forced into issuing a half-hearted backing of embattled manager Avram Grant this week after a reported move to replace the Israeli with Martin O’Neill fell through.

The Hammers are in turmoil, as evidenced by their 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday, which ended in farcical scenes as Grant waved goodbye to West Ham fans only to be granted a reprieve days later.

These two sides last met in late December, with West Ham holding out for a 1-1 draw after Everton defender Tony Hibbert scored an early own goal at Upton Park.

On the injury front, Everton boss David Moyes will be without Louis Saha (thigh) and Ross Barkley (broken leg).

West Ham have a rather more extensive injury list, with Lars Jacobsen (heel), Herita Ilunga (leg), Manuel Da Costa (ankle), Kieron Dyer (thigh), Anthony Edgar (knee), Jack Collison (knee) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) all unavailable.

Striker Benni McCarthy was unused against Arsenal but could make his return from a calf injury, while fellow attacker Victor Obinna is still serving a suspension.