Premier League - Match Preview: Everton v Swansea City
Everton's Lacina Traore (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Swansea during their English FA Cup fifth round soccer match at Goodison park in Liverpool, northern England
Michu could make his first Barclays Premier League start in over three months at Everton on Saturday and give Swansea City a goalsoring boost.
The Spaniard, who found the net 18 times in the league last term, has been sidelined with an ankle injury since mid-December, but came off the bench as Garry Monk's men suffered a 2-1 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion last weekend.
That result left Swansea without a win in seven matches in all competitions and head coach Monk's only victory in charge remains his opening-game triumph over Cardiff City. Monk will need to break new ground if Swansea are to record a much-needed win, as the Welsh club have never beaten Everton.
Michu would be one of a number of crucial returnees in the Swansea XI, with Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Nathan Dyer (foot) also back in contention for a start, but Monk conceded that he would have a tough decision to make about whether to play the 27-year-old striker.
"We have to be careful throwing Michu straight back in," he said. "Every player will say, 'I'm ready' but he's not had a lot of game time and it's a case of building him up.
"It's unfair to put too much pressure on him. We haven't got too much time but it's important we don't rush him either, we can't afford for him injured to be again."
Seamus Coleman netted a last-gasp winner to sink Cardiff at Goodison Park last weekend, but speculation surrounding the Irishman's future will have come as an unwanted distraction for Roberto Martinez's team. Everton are two points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with two matches in hand, making a UEFA Europa League berth for next season look likely, and they have lost just once at home in the past 15 months in the Barclays Premier League.
The Merseysiders have taken the spoils in both previous meetings between the sides this season, claiming a 2-1 win at Swansea in the league before triumphing 3-1 on home soil in the FA Cup fifth round.
Monk replaced Martinez as Swansea captain in 2006, a post he retained under the Spaniard during his time in charge at Liberty Stadium, and Martinez is confident that his former club are in no danger of being relegated to the Championship.
"I'll always have special affection and special memories and I want Swansea to do really, really well," he said. "They'll be fine at the end of the season, the club's philosophy will give them great success.
"I've been very impressed with Garry Monk, it would be a big mistake to try and assess his time just by the results."
Phil Jagielka (hamstring) faces a late fitness test ahead, while Steven Pienaar will miss out with a knee problem. In addition, Martinez believes that Lacina Traore (hamstring) will play again before the end of the season.
Everton (from): Howard, Robles, Alcaraz, Baines, Coleman, Distin, Hibbert, Jagielka, Stones, Barkley, Barry, McCarthy, McGeady, Osman, Deulofeu, Gueye, Lukaku, Mirallas, Naismith, Vellios.
Swansea City (from): Cornell, Tremmel, Vorm, Zabret, Amat, Bartley, Chico, Davies, Rangel, Situ, Taylor, Tiendalli, Williams, Britton, Canas, De Guzman, Dyer, Pablo, Pozuelo, Richards, Routledge, Shelvey, Bony, Emnes, Lamah, Lita, Michu, N’Gog, Vazquez.
Match Appointments
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: S Burt, D England. Fourth Official: R Madley.
That result left Swansea without a win in seven matches in all competitions and head coach Monk's only victory in charge remains his opening-game triumph over Cardiff City. Monk will need to break new ground if Swansea are to record a much-needed win, as the Welsh club have never beaten Everton.
Michu would be one of a number of crucial returnees in the Swansea XI, with Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Nathan Dyer (foot) also back in contention for a start, but Monk conceded that he would have a tough decision to make about whether to play the 27-year-old striker.
"We have to be careful throwing Michu straight back in," he said. "Every player will say, 'I'm ready' but he's not had a lot of game time and it's a case of building him up.
"It's unfair to put too much pressure on him. We haven't got too much time but it's important we don't rush him either, we can't afford for him injured to be again."
Seamus Coleman netted a last-gasp winner to sink Cardiff at Goodison Park last weekend, but speculation surrounding the Irishman's future will have come as an unwanted distraction for Roberto Martinez's team. Everton are two points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with two matches in hand, making a UEFA Europa League berth for next season look likely, and they have lost just once at home in the past 15 months in the Barclays Premier League.
The Merseysiders have taken the spoils in both previous meetings between the sides this season, claiming a 2-1 win at Swansea in the league before triumphing 3-1 on home soil in the FA Cup fifth round.
Monk replaced Martinez as Swansea captain in 2006, a post he retained under the Spaniard during his time in charge at Liberty Stadium, and Martinez is confident that his former club are in no danger of being relegated to the Championship.
"I'll always have special affection and special memories and I want Swansea to do really, really well," he said. "They'll be fine at the end of the season, the club's philosophy will give them great success.
"I've been very impressed with Garry Monk, it would be a big mistake to try and assess his time just by the results."
Phil Jagielka (hamstring) faces a late fitness test ahead, while Steven Pienaar will miss out with a knee problem. In addition, Martinez believes that Lacina Traore (hamstring) will play again before the end of the season.
Everton (from): Howard, Robles, Alcaraz, Baines, Coleman, Distin, Hibbert, Jagielka, Stones, Barkley, Barry, McCarthy, McGeady, Osman, Deulofeu, Gueye, Lukaku, Mirallas, Naismith, Vellios.
Swansea City (from): Cornell, Tremmel, Vorm, Zabret, Amat, Bartley, Chico, Davies, Rangel, Situ, Taylor, Tiendalli, Williams, Britton, Canas, De Guzman, Dyer, Pablo, Pozuelo, Richards, Routledge, Shelvey, Bony, Emnes, Lamah, Lita, Michu, N’Gog, Vazquez.
Match Appointments
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: S Burt, D England. Fourth Official: R Madley.