Allan will play his first Everton match for more than two months as Carlo Ancelotti makes three changes for the visit of Southampton tonight.

Brazil midfielder Allan comes back into the starting XI for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in the Blues’ 2-0 win at Leicester City on 16 December.

Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Gylfi Sigurdsson – who both came off the bench in the 2-0 Merseyside derby victory at Anfield last time out – start against the Saints, with Sigurdsson skippering the side.

Jordan Pickford retains his place in goal, with a likely backline of Mason Holgate, Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey and Lucas Digne.

Allan is set to partner Andre Gomes and Abdoluaye Doucoure in midfield, with Sigurdsson and Calvert-Lewin joined by Richarlison in Everton’s attack.

The Blues’ bench features Academy graduates Nathan Broadhead, Ryan Astley, Kyle John and Tyler Onyango.

On the absence of James Rodriguez, Tom Davies, Seamus Coleman and Robin Olsen from his squad, Ancelotti said: "They had little problems in training this week and so I prefer to give them a rest to be ready for the next game. We have a busy schedule, we play again on Thursday, but they will recover soon. They are really light problems.

"The team on the pitch is good, I think. We have Allan and Dominic Calvert-Lewin back so I think it’s good and I hope for a good performance.

"The form at home is not good, we know this, and we have a great opportunity tonight. We are going to play against a team not in a good moment but they are still a good team that play with a lot of intensity. I said to my players before the game to be worried because we have to work hard if we want to win."