Mikel Arteta has vowed to avenge Everton's humiliating Europa League defeat to Benfica ahead of tonight's visit of Sporting Lisbon.
The Spaniard was sidelined when an injury-hit Blues side slumped to a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the Portuguese giants in October's group stage game and Arteta is now targeting a revenge mission as the Blues prepare to take on the Leões at Goodison Park.
He said: “When you are out it is very hard, but when they are winning it’s okay. It is when things are not going well that it’s really tough.
“The 5-0 defeat by Benfica in Portugal was after my second surgery. I was in the hotel watching it and I thought, ‘this should be good today’ but we had so many injuries, and played some of the young lads.
“I was actually very embarrassed watching it, because we were not very good that night and I hate when we put across an image of ourselves like that in Europe. That’s not us and you have to explain that’s not us, so it was bad.”
Arteta, 27, has paid tribute to his Everton team mates for their ability to hold the side together in the face of the severe injury crisis that engulfed the senior squad earlier in the campaign.
He added: “Sporting have some very good players and it’s not going to be easy. But I think if we have all our injured players back on the pitch we have the best team in many, many years – certainly during my time here.
"It says a lot about the strength and the character of the lads that they held together when so many were out."
Marouane Fellaini (ankle), Tony Hibbert (groin) and Phil Jagielka (knee) will all miss the game through injury whilst John Heitinga is ineligible.
Joseph Yobo returns to the squad following a hamstring problem whilst Victor Anichebe and Philippe Senderos will both undergo late fitness tests.
Kick-off at Goodison Park is at 6.45 pm.
Everton go into tonights clash strong favourites, at 9/2 for a 1-0 win over Sporting. Head to Paddy Power for the latest odds and specials.
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