MARCO MATERAZZI is suspended for the third time this season as Everton face Leicester City today. The Italian defender has been sent off once and has received nine yellow cards this season. He will be banned for one game. Also out is injured defender Craig Short, while John Collins goes into hospital today for an operation on his foot that will keep him out for six weeks. Dave Unsworth, who broke his nose in the FA Cup win at Bristol City, will play, as will French midfielder Olivier Dacourt who has recovered from an arm injury.

Leicester hope to have captain Steve Walsh, winger Andy Impey and defender Pontus Kaamark fit for today's game. Kaamark would have been back in the side much earlier after getting over an Achilles problem but then suffered a back spasm. Walsh has had a rib injury and Impey a damaged calf. Garry Parker and Graham Fenton are both likely to be kept out with injuries picked up in a midweek reserve match against Liverpool. The former Everton striker Tony Cottee returns to Goodison Park only two goals away from 200 in league football.

EVERTON (from): Myhre, Bilic, Watson, Unsworth, Dunne, Ball, Hutchison, Dacourt, Grant, Barmby, Oster, Bakayoko, Cadamarteri, Branch, Simonsen, Cleland, Jeffers.

LEICESTER CITY (from): Keller, Arphexad, Guppy, Walsh, Taggart, Ullathorne, Sinclair, Elliott, Izzet, Lennon, Cottee, Zagorakis, Heskey, Impey, Marshall, Campbell, Wilson, Oakes, Kaamark, Parker, Fenton.

Suspensions: Everton: Materazzi.

Referee: P Durkin.