Everton v Blackburn preview

Ince set for debut game in charge

By Amanda Cornforth   Last updated: 15th August 2008

blackburn paul ince nac breda

Ince: First game

Skysports.com prediction: Everton 2 Blackburn 1

Sky Bet odds: Everton evens Draw 11/5 Blackburn 3/1

One to watch: Roque Santa Cruz

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Paul Ince will take charge of his first Premier League game when Blackburn travel to Everton for Saturday's season opener.

Last season Rovers finished seventh in the top flight under Mark Hughes and just missed out on a European spot as they were three points short of claiming an Intertoto Cup place.

That ended two consecutive European outings for Blackburn and Ince will be hoping that Rovers can qualify again this year.

As well as Ince's arrival in June, four new players have moved to Ewood Park in the form of Paul Robinson, Carlos Villanueva, Danny Simpson and Julio Santa Cruz this summer.

Emerton fit

Villanueva is not expected to feature as he recovers from chicken pox whilst Brett Emerton is set to be included in the side.

The utility man bruised his foot during the pre-season game against Benfica in Portugal but should start as should Roque Santa Cruz following a recent Achilles problem.

Ryan Nelsen is also in the frame after he returned from Olympics duty with New Zealand.

Worries

Everton finished an impressive fifth last year after a solid campaign and most of the talk over the summer has surrounded boss David Moyes and whether or not he will sign a new contract at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have only brought in midfielder Steven Pienaar from Borussia Dortmund on a permanent basis over the close season but Andy Johnson and Lee Carsley departed to Fulham and Birmingham respectively.

Everton hope to have James Vaughan fit again after a foot injury or they could just be left with 11 senior players to pick from.

Yakubu is the only forward currently available to play whilst Victor Anichebe remains on duty at the Olympics with Nigeria.

Possible starting XIs

Everton: Howard, Baines, Lescott, Yobo, Jagielka, Arteta, Neville, Rodwell, Osman, Yakubu, Vaughan.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Warnock, Samba, Tugay, Nelsen, Emerton, Dunn, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Pedersen.