Everton hope midfielder Tim Cahill will be fit for their home Premiership clash with struggling Southampton - but they will be without defender Gary Naysmith, who has returned from Scotland duty with an ankle injury.

Cahill was injured by a tackle from Jamie Redknapp a fortnight ago, and has been receiving treatment for a knee injury ever since - but he has started training again and could make the squad for the match against the Hampshire side.

Striker Marcus Bent has had treatment also for a groin problem while Duncan Ferguson likewise for a knee injury but both are expected to be fit for the match.




Teenager Leon Best is in line to make his full debut as Southampton head coach Steve Wigley faces a striker crisis.

Wigley is already without James Beattie, Peter Crouch and Marian Pahars through long-term injuries while Brett Ormerod is loan at Leeds and Kevin Phillips faces a fitness test on a calf strain.

Best could be joined in attack by fellow 18-year-old Dexter Blackstock as Wigley bids for his first win since taking charge from Paul Sturrock in August.

Defender Graeme Le Saux and midfielder Neil McCann must also undergo tests on knee and hamstring problems before being passed fit.

Jason Dodd, Michael Svensson, Matthew Oakley, Yoann Folly and Paul Smith are all still ruled out by long-term injuries.

Teams
Everton (from): Martyn, Pistone, Yobo, Stubbs, Weir, Hibbert, McFadden, Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Gravesen, Ferguson, Campbell, Bent, Watson, Kilbane, Wright.

Southampton (from): Niemi, Nilsson, Lundekvam, Jakobsson, Le Saux, Fernandes, Delap, Prutton, A.Svensson, Phillips, Best, Van Damme, Higginbotham, McCann, Blackstock, Kenton, Blayney.