Rafael Benítez paid £12m to sign Jacob Murphy for Newcastle from Norwich in 2017 but he experienced a slow start to life on Tyneside. Indeed, following loan stints at West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday, Murphy was expected to be sold to a Championship club this summer but instead was a surprise inclusion in Steve Bruce’s Premier League squad. It looked an excellent call when an apparently reborn Murphy shone at right-back before scoring a late equaliser as Newcastle drew at Wolves last week. Bruce now says he does not dare drop him against Everton. Maybe Benítez’s judgment was right after all. Louise Taylor
Sunday 2pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 1 Everton 2
Odds H 3-1 A Evens D 5-2
Referee Stuart Attwell
This season G3 Y18 R1 6.33 cards/game
NEWCASTLE
Subs from Gillespie, Dummett, Krafth, Manquillo, Carroll, Fraser, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Yedlin, Clark, Joelinton
Doubtful Lascelles (foot)
Injured Dubravka (calf, Dec), Shelvey (hernia, unknown), Ritchie (shoulder, unknown), Gayle (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y13 R0
Form WLDWLD
Leading scorer Wilson 4
EVERTON
Subs from Olsen, Lössl, Virgínia, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Gomes, Bernard, Davies, Iwobi, Simms
Doubtful None
Injured Rodríguez (ankle, 7 Nov), Coleman (hamstring, 7 Nov), Holgate (toe, 21 Nov), Tosun (knee, 21 Nov), Gbamin (achilles, Dec)
Suspended Digne (one match), Richarlison (second of three)
Discipline Y7 R2
Form WWWWDL
Leading scorer Calvert-Lewin 7
