Premier League preview: Stoke v Everton

Everton have the chance to leapfrog Stoke into the top half of the English Premier League when the two sides do battle at Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Everton sit in 11th place in the league table and are just two points behind Tony Pulis’ Stoke, who are in 10th spot.

Both sides are coming off disappointing results, with Stoke suffering a surprise 2-0 loss to struggling Fulham on Tuesday, while David Moyes’ Everton outfit were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

Goals – and the lack of them – have been very much the talking point for Moyes of late, with his side scoring just 21 in the season so far.

With front men Ayegbeni Yakubu, Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford all misfiring this season, nine of those goals have come from Australia midfielder Tim Cahill.

The 31-year-old will jet out to join his national squad for their Asian Cup campaign in Qatar after the Stoke game and Moyes would dearly love a win as a farewell present.

Both managers have some good news from the treatment room, with only long-term casualty Mamady Sidibe certain to miss out for Stoke.

For David Moyes, Leon Osman is a definite absentee but Dutch defender John Heitinga could be on the verge of a recall after recovering from a knee injury.

Similarly, Heitinga’s partner at the back Phil Jagielka has been troubled by a thigh strain of late but could be ready to return to the first team on Saturday.