Ahead of their crunch Europa League match against Benfica, Everton are once again sweating on the fitness of one of their key players.

 

Australian international Tim Cahill picked up a knock against Aston Villa and missed training alongside Leon Osman. With Lucas Neil and John Heitinga already ruled out due to ineligibility, the last thing David Moyes needs is a return of the injury hoodoo that left his squad woefully short of fit first-teamers last year.

Thursday’s match is being seen on the blue side of the Mersey as a opportunity for revenge after the humiliating 5-0 drubbing in Portugal. With 11 players not having travelled two weeks ago, the Toffees will be determined to put up a better showing in front of their own crowd. Phil Neville will definitely miss the match through injury but the captain is confident that the return leg will give them a chance to put things right at Goodison. "It is good that the game has come round quickly after the defeat over in Portugal” he said, "the score-line was flattering to Benfica and we all believed that if we'd have travelled there with a few more experienced players then we'd of given them a game and beaten them. We do fancy our chances at Goodison."