It won’t be easy, warns Baines

EVERTON left-back Leighton Baines has warned his team-mates to roll up their sleeves and show their mental strength in tomorrow’s FA Cup-tie.

The England international told the club’s website: “We saw what a tough game they (Athletic) gave Liverpool in the last round.

“You know you’re going to be playing in difficult conditions and sometimes things don’t go for you, but we’ve just got to go there and be professional.”

Baines also expressed surprise that Athletic talisman Jose Baxter is playing in npower League One.

He said of his former team-mate: “Jose’s a great kid and with no disrespect to Oldham, I expected to be playing against him in the Premier League by now.

“It’s all credit to him that he signed for Oldham. They gave him a chance when he didn’t have a club and that’s a great thing.


Everton manager David Moyes should have defender Sylvain Distin fit again for the trip to Boundary Park.
Distin pulled out of Sunday's 2–0 defeat at Manchester United just before kick–off through illness, but is poised to return to the squad tomorrow.

Striker Victor Anichebe is a doubt with a knock sustained at Old Trafford.