Everton face Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday night in the Carabao Cup fourth round, aiming to move a step closer to a first trophy since 1995.
The 7.45pm kick-off is the first of two consecutive meetings between the sides, with the Blues then travelling to St James' Park for a Premier League fixture on Monday.
Victory would set up a quarter-final tie against Fleetwood Town, the side that knocked Arsenal out of the competition.
Key players missing for the Magpies clash
Everton go into the match after consecutive 2-0 Premier League defeats, at home to Chelsea and away to Arsenal on Saturday. The Blues were without two key first-team players at the Emirates Stadium and saw another forced off in the second half.
Jarrad Branthwaite was absent against Arsenal due to concussion protocol rather than a new injury. The centre-back had been limited to 10 appearances last season by hamstring problems, with his campaign ending when he was stretchered off in tears during the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium on April 19.
The 24-year-old visited the MYOS Sport & Health Clinic in Munich over the summer to address his fitness issues and later earned an England recall. Manager David Moyes said Branthwaite had picked up a knock while deputising for Vitalii Mykolenko in the 2-2 draw at Hull City, and he then collided with Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who went to hospital.
Grealish and Mykolenko also in doubt
Winger Jack Grealish missed the Arsenal game through illness. With no pre-match press conference held, an update on the England pair may not come until team news is announced at 6.30pm. Clubs are not obliged to hold press conferences for Carabao Cup ties until the semi-final stage.
Left-back Mykolenko was forced off in the 74th minute against Arsenal with what Moyes described as a suspected calf injury. Asked about the Ukraine international's condition, the Blues boss said: “Don’t know yet, no. No idea.”
Should Mykolenko, Grealish and Branthwaite all be ruled out, Everton would have just 15 senior outfield players available for the tie.
