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Aiyegbeni Yakubu should return to the Everton starting line-up for Sunday's Premier League clash at home to former club Middlesbrough. The striker missed the 3-1 victory over West Ham last week with a heel complaint but manager David Moyes has confirmed he is back to full fitness.
Aiyegbeni Yakubu should return to the Everton starting line-up for Sunday's Premier League clash at home to former club Middlesbrough. The striker missed the 3-1 victory over West Ham last week with a heel complaint but manager David Moyes has confirmed he is back to full fitness.
Midfielder Steven Pienaar also returns at Goodison Park following an ankle problem and Marouane Fellaini will replace Jack Rodwell after completing a one-match suspension.
Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Cahill, Rodwell, Vaughan, Fellaini, Osman, Yakubu, Saha, Hibbert, Anichebe, Baines, Nash, Castillo, Jutkiewicz, Gosling.
Meanwhile, Jospeh Yobo expects Everton team-mate Yakubu Aiyegbeni to rediscover his best form soon. The striker, who has not scored since the 2-2 draw with Standard Liege on 18th September, missed last week's game against West Ham due to a heel problem.
Louis Saha scored twice in Yakubu's absence and the Nigerian may not be recalled for the clash with Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Yobo nevertheless feels that his compatriot will play a major role this season, although he accepts that it is more important for the team to be successful.
"He hasn't scored for a few weeks but I think he is doing okay," Yobo told the Liverpool Echo.
"Yak is one player who when he gets a chance he takes it. Right now it has not been happening for him, but it's like the defenders when we weren't keeping clean sheets.
"We know football is always going to change. I've spoken to Yak about things and he knows that as long as we are winning, it doesn't matter who is getting the credit.
"We are aiming to get back into Europe. But as soon as we get on a run, he is going to have that belief and confidence and it will make all the difference. Yak on his day is a handful. I know him well and he will be feeling better now that we are starting to show what we are about."
Everton have risen to seventh on the back of three successive wins and Yobo is targeting three more points against Boro.
He said: "We are on a good run and this is typical Everton. We are playing at home in front of our fans and we desperately need the result. Middlesbrough are a good side but, no disrespect, we need to be winning our games at home. The confidence and the belief is a lot stronger.