Reserve Return For Coleman

Irishman steps up recovery from thigh injury.

Seamus Coleman will step up his return from injury with a run-out for Everton Reserves today.

The Blues are facing Newcastle United in a behind-closed-doors clash at Finch Farm.

And Coleman, who has been out with a thigh injury since the 2-0 FA Cup win over Tamworth, has been named in the starting line-up.

The 23-year-old is joined in the side by fellow Irishman Shane Duffy, who was this week called up to Giovanni Trapattoni’s senior squad for the first time.

Other standout names for the Blues are Ross Barkley, Magaye Gueye, Apostolos Vellios and Jose Baxter – all of whom have played first team football this season.

Everton: Hahnemann, Browning, Toure, Dier, Duffy, Coleman, Forshaw, Barkley, Gueye, Baxter, Vellios. Subs: Davies, Kelly, Lundstram, Heneghan.

Newcastle: Alnwick, Nzuzi, Dummet, McDermott, Henderson, Kadar, Joan Edmundson, Ryan Donaldson, Phil Airey, Dan Taylor, Yven Moyo.