Ossie To Skipper Blues

Leon Osman will captain Everton against Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime as David Moyes makes two changes to the side that lost against Wigan last weekend.

Victor Anichebe and Darron Gibson come in for Nikica Jelavic and Club skipper Phil Neville, meaning Osman takes over the armband with Phil Jagielka (ankle) still out injured.

As expected, Jan Mucha continues in goal in place of the also sidelined Tim Howard (back) as the Blues look to rack up a fourth straight Goodison victory over the reigning Barclays Premier League champions.

For City, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero are both missing, as is influential midfielder Yaya Toure.

Moyes' switches mean Slovakian Mucha will stand behind a defence of Seamus Coleman, Sylvain Distin, John Heitinga and Leighton Baines, with Kevin Mirallas, Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini joining Gibson and Osman in midfield.

Having been given the nod ahead of Jelavic, Anichebe will lead the line in attack.

On the bench, Jelavic is joined by Neville, Bryan Oviedo, Steven Naismith and the youthful trio of Shane Duffy,  Ross Barkley and Mason Springthorpe.

Former Blue Joleon Lescott starts on the bench for the visitors.

Everton: Mucha, Baines, Gibson, Heitinga, Mirallas, Distin, Osman (c), Pienaar, Coleman, Fellaini, Anichebe. Subs: Springthorpe, Oviedo, Jelavic, Naismith, Neville, Barkley, Duffy.

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, K Toure, Nastasic, Kolarov, Garcia, Silva, Milner, Barry, Tevez, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Razak, Nasri, Sinclair, Lescott, Clichy, Lopes.