Manuel Fernandes will undergo his Everton medical on Friday and is therefore highly unlikely to be involved against City.

The midfielder only flew into Merseyside on Thursday night, after the Toffees and Valencia had agreed on a loan deal until the end of the campaign for the player who was also on loan at Goodison Park last season.

Everton will be without Joseph Yobo, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Steven Pienaar - all away on African Nations Cup duty - for the match that will have a major bearing on qualification for the Champions League.

Midfielder Mikel Arteta will be back after a three-game suspension, but Leon Osman is still out injured.

Elano is poised to return for Manchester City as they head to Goodison Park for the Barclays Premier League match with Everton.

The Brazilian playmaker sat out last weekend's FA Cup draw with West Ham but should return in place of new arrival Nery Castillo, who is still adjusting to the English game.

Michael Johnson (abdominal strain) is the only absentee for Sven-Goran Eriksson's men, with full-back Michael Ball returning to Everton for the first time since his departure for Rangers in 2001.