Everton duo face fitness fight

Arteta missed Thursday's 1-1 UEFA Cup draw with Metalist Kharkiv with an ankle injury and boss David Moyes is desperate to have his playmaker back at Villa Park.

Goalkeeper Howard has been out with a damaged finger and, equally, Moyes would like his first-choice stopper back in action despite the good form shown by stand-in Stefan Wessels.

Howard has missed the last two outings after dislocating his finger in the USA's defeat by Brazil in Chicago a fortnight ago but could figure against Villa.

Moyes said: "I can't tell you much about Arteta, I will know more on Saturday afternoon. The same applies to Tim."

Steven Pienaar was ruled out through injury on Thursday but could return. Thomas Gravesen is also a doubt as the Goodison Park chief continues to contend with a midfield injury crisis.

Tim Cahill and James Vaughan remain on the long-term absentee list but are both nearing a return to fitness.

Everton will need to overcome their bitter frustrations at their inability to kill off the nine-man Ukrainian side in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, a failure which leaves them a difficult task for the return in a fortnight.

None of the players will probably feel it more than defender Joleon Lescott, who must have felt his third goal of the season would secure a first-leg victory in the first-round tie.

Defender Lescott said: "I felt we had a couple of warning signs in the first half against Metalist, and they created a few decent chances with Stefan making a few good saves. The warning signs were there and we didn't learn from that.

"The boys at the back let the team down. We should have kept a clean sheet and it was a sloppy goal to give away. The most important thing was to keep a clean sheet and we didn't do that."

Two penalty misses from Andrew Johnson left Everton level after the first leg but Lescott is confident the Blues will get the right result the Ukraine.

He said: "Everybody was disappointed. It was one of those days for AJ but he will come through it and I am sure he has been through worse in his career.

"We knew that they would defend and we did not support the strikers as much as we should have.

"We knew it would be tough and we have added a little more pressure on ourselves. We are confident we can go out there and get the right result. Hopefully we can do the same at Villa."