Everton host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday evening, aiming to build on an unbeaten run of five matches. The Toffees are ninth in the Premier League with six points from four games, having drawn their last three league fixtures.
Sean Dyche's side have not lost since the opening week of August, a sequence featuring two wins and three draws. Their most recent outing was a goalless stalemate away at Tottenham last Saturday. Before that, they fought back for a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at home, with Tyrique George and Ainsley Maitland-Niles scoring late goals.
Midfielder Christian Nørgaard remains sidelined with a muscle injury and is not expected back until late October. His absence will be felt in the engine room as Dyche considers his options for the cup tie.
Wolves arrive off a 1-0 away win at Sheffield United, but their form has been mixed with two wins, two draws and a loss from their last five. They will pose a threat with a forward line that includes experienced campaigners like Sadio Mané and Adam Armstrong.
Everton's last starting lineup, from the Tottenham match, featured Jordan Pickford in goal behind a back four of Maitland-Niles, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaliy Mykolenko. The midfield trio of Harvey Armstrong, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall supported attackers Tyrique George and Tom Barry.
Focus now turns to the cup before a return to Premier League action at home to Ipswich Town this weekend.
