Everton’s advancement to Round Four wasn’t as simple as first thought when the draw was made as an extra time winner from Abdoulaye Doucoure was needed to overcome Rotherham United at home after Cenk Tosun’s opener was cancelled out.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s last outing 11-days ago ended in victory away to Wolves, after last Sunday’s match against Aston Villa was postponed. Everton come into this game confident that they can reach Round Five for what will be the first time in five seasons. 

Sheffield Wednesday have turned the form tables since sacking Tony Pulis three weeks ago after 45-days in charge, with interim boss Neil Thompson winning two from two in the Championship.

Wednesday haven’t played since their FA Cup fixture two weeks ago, when they defeated League Two Exeter City away from home to progress. A Covid outbreak forced their training ground to close and as a result their last two league games against fellow relegation fighters Coventry City and Wycombe Wanderers were postponed.

Thompson will be hoping to guide the Owls to an upset at Goodison Park whilst Ancelotti will be aiming to avoid an early exit and continue the Blues’ fine form.

Team News

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has recovered from a hamstring injury and will be available. The England international has scored 14 goals this season and will be looking to score his first FA Cup goal for the club having only scored once previously for Northampton Town. 

However, the list of unavailable players is extensive. Longer term injuries sees Fabian Delph continue to miss out with a hamstring injury with Jean-Philippe Gbamin still unavailable.

Lucas Digne and Alex Iwobi will be absent but only for this game. Allan and Niels Nkounkou were also said to be unavailable.

Sheffield Wednesday’s new signing Andre Green will be in the frame to make his debut after signing as a free agent. Jack Marriott could also make an appearance in what will be his first since November. 

The interim boss didn’t give too much away in terms of absentees. Massimo Luongo, Julian Borner, Chey Dunkley and Keiren Westwood have all been out, with a couple back on the training pitch and to be assessed ahead of the game.    

Predicted line-ups

Everton: Olsen, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Godfrey, Davies, Doucoure, Gomes, Rodriguez, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin (4-3-3)

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Odubajo, Shaw, Lees, Palmer, Harris, Pelupessy, Bannan, Reach, Paterson, Marriott (4-4-2)

Ones to Watch

Everton: James Rodriguez

Whenever Rodriguez plays it’s hard not to keep a close eye on the former Real Madrid playmaker. The Columbian has already recorded eight goal contributions in 14 games for Everton, including the assist for Doucoure’s winner over Rotherham.  

Sheffield Wednesday: Andre Green

Green could make his first appearance for the club since signing just over a week ago. Green was released from Aston Villa- the club he had been with since the age of nine- in the summer and the winger could feature for the first time since a 10 minute cameo for Charlton Athletic against Leeds United in July.  

Head to Head

The two sides haven’t met in league action since 2000- the year Wednesday were relegated- in which Everton picked up four points.

They’ve met twice in cup competition since with Everton winning on both occasions without conceding. The latest was last season in the Third Round of the EFL Cup as Sheffield born, Calvert-Lewin scored twice to send the Toffee’s through at Hillsborough.

In the FA Cup, the last time the clubs faced each other was in 1990- Everton won 2-1. One of Everton’s five FA Cup trophy wins came against Wednesday, a 3-2 victory in 1966.

How To Watch

The match is available on BT Sport 1 with kick off at 8pm GMT.