Louis Saha has been ruled out of this afternoon's game at Fulham, while new signings John Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and returning striker Yakubu start on the bench.

Brazilian forward Jo comes into the side in place of Saha, who is rested as a pre-caution after complaining of tight hamstrings. 

It is the only change from the 2-1 win over Wigan a fortnight ago, though Yakubu makes his first appearance on a Premier League teamsheet since rupturing an Achilles in November last year.

That means another summer arrival, Sylvain Distin, continues at the back alongside Joseph Yobo, Tony Hibbert and Leighton Baines, while teenager Jack Rodwell will again join Phil Neville, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill in midfield.

All eyes will be on the bench however with Heitinga set for a possible debut at Craven Cottage. He and Russian international Bilyaletdinov are joined in the dugout by Carlo Nash, Dan Gosling, Yakubu, Marouane Fellaini and James Vaughan.

Ex-Everton striker Andrew Johnson is named in the starting line up for the hosts. Midfielder Simon Davies is on the bench. 

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Yobo, Jo, Distin, Cahill, Neville, Pienaar, Osman, Rodwell. Subs: Nash, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Gosling, Yakubu, Fellaini.

Fulham: Stockdale, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Johnson, Murphy, Duff, Hughes, Etuhu, Dempsey, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Baird, Nevland, Gera, Kamara, Greening, Davies.