NORMALLY around this time of year we implore David Moyes to field his strongest side in the Carling Cup, what with it representing a great chance to win some silverware and all the rest of it.

However, with the guaranteed games in the Europa League this year, and crucial points to be won in the Premier League at the weekend, all but the most traditional ‘play your strongest side at all times’ advocates will cut the Everton manager some slack if he tries to rest a few players for the trip to the KC Stadium tonight for a tie that is as underwhelming as it’s possible to get at this stage of the competition – at least since Middlesborough were relegated anyway.

Moyes will hope to have Diniyar Bilyaletdinov fit, so the Russian can get more experience of the English game under his belt and also to give Steven Pienaar a deserved break.

The little South African was again the best player at the weekend, but his all-action style and diminutive frame mean that he takes some scandalous knocks.

It seems that whenever he’s not skinning full-backs he’s limping gingerly back into position.

Lucas Neill might feature too – he’s another who will need games given that he’s not played a club game since the end of last season.

We have to be honest and admit that the Australian has never been one of the most likeable figures in the game, and that’s saying something when you see the antics out of players every weekend now.