Premier League preview: Everton v Wolves

Everton host Wolverhampton in the Premier League on Saturday amidst a backdrop of discontent from the Toffees’ protesting fans.

Everton’s underwhelming start to the season – they are 17th in the league just a point away from the relegation zone – has left fans planning a second protest march against the board of directors, citing the sale of key players like Mikel Arteta and a lack of transfer funds as the catalyst for their supporters’ frustrations.

Manager David Moyes must now turn around the club’s fortunes in a hurry before the he is caught up in the line of fire.

Everton’s nightmare run of fixtures has not helped either with five losses in six games against the league’s top four – Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle – as well as a 2-0 loss to sixth-placed Liverpool part of that run.

Their only win in the league since September came against Fulham (3-1) at Craven Cottage with the Toffees managing just two goals in the five losses during that period.

There is some good news out of Goodison Park though, with Everton’s 20-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell making a successful debut for England in their 1-0 win over Sweden on Tuesday.

The availability of attacking pair Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill to bolster the squad will please Moyes.

Fellaini sat out the Toffees’ last game, a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, due to suspension, while Cahill has not started a league match in over a month and was omitted from Australia’s squad to face Thailand and Oman due to a persistent ankle injury.

Phil Jagielka played in England’s 1-0 win over Spain with a pain killing injection to numb a broken toe and should be fit to face Wolves.

Mick McCarthy’s Wolves enjoyed a crucial 3-1 win at relegation rivals Wigan in their last match that saw them move up to 13th to release the pressure valve momentarily.

McCarthy admitted during the week that he will be looking to bolster his squad in the January transfer window and also hinted at the potential for veteran Karl Henry to get forward more often after recent assists.

“We’ll be looking to do something in January, definitely,” McCarthy said.

“If we can get anybody it would be important to freshen the squad up. If there’s players around we can get and do something to improve us as a squad or as a team, we’ll try to do it.”