Everton will be hopeful Vitalii Mykolenko can return from a thigh injury in time to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.

The Ukrainian recovered in time to start against Liverpool last midweek after picking up the issue on international duty, but then missed out entirely against Arsenal a week ago.

Mykolenko has been spotted in training this week, but he will remain a doubt, so that could hand the opportunity to Nathan Patterson again, after he did a solid job out of position at left-back against the Gunners.

One player who has returned is Dwight McNeil, who has spent the last four months on the sidelines and needed knee surgery at the start of the year, but he was given a few minutes late on in the draw with Arsenal.

Iliman Ndiaye was fit enough to start after only making a cameo appearance in the Merseyside derby, and he marked his return by converting the penalty that earned Everton a point, moving back above Beto as the club's top scorer this season with nine.

Returns for Ndiaye and McNeil are well timed, because Jesper Lindstrom is currently struggling with a groin injury, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains out with a hamstring problem.

Tim Iroegbunam was given a rare start in midfield against Arsenal, but former Forest man James Garner is set to retake his place in the starting XI on his return to the City Ground, while slightly further forward, Carlos Alcaraz is just three appearances away from hitting the clause needed for Everton to make his loan move from Flamengo permanent.

There is no doubt who will line up in the centre of Everton's defence, with Jarrad Branthwaite set to partner James Tarkowski, who has amassed more Premier League yellow cards than any other player without ever being sent off (64).

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Patterson; Harrison, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto

Click here to see how Forest could line up for this encounter.

Written by
Andrew Delaney