No change in Everton’s injury situation for Newcastle

During the pre-match press conference yesterday ahead of Everton’s trip to Newcastle, manager Sam Allardyce said that there was no new updates on the team’s injury report. Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka are fit and will be in today’s squad.

Leighton Baines remains out with a calf injury with no information provided by the club about how long he’ll continue to be out. Yannick Bolasie finally returned to the pitch this week with the Under-23s, but Allardyce will continue to be cautious when he can let him play for the senior side again.

Ross Barkley is also nearing a return to the pitch and has been working out at the Finch Farm training facility. James McCarthy remains out with his own hamstring issue, while Maarten Stekelenburg is still recovering from a groin injury. Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori remain out with long term ailments.

For Newcastle, Benitez has no new injury concerns except Paul Dummett who is recovering from a hamstring issue. Club captain Jamaal Lascelles was a substitute over the weekend, and is expected to make his first start since early November today.