One Everton player who won’t be involved for England is Mikel Arteta, who has dismissed reports he has been approached by Fabio Capello about playing for England.

However, the Spanish schemer has reiterated he would consider the suggestion should Capello make contact.

“The situation is the same as it has always been,” said . “No-one has contacted me about it and I said really clearly last week my thoughts about it. I said it once and I’m going to repeat myself - if that opportunity comes I will consider it very seriously.

“But that’s all I can say. I don’t think it’s me that has to make the decision. They (The FA) have to think about the situation, they have to propose something, they have to talk to me, and then we can talk about it.”

Luke Young’s ninth-minute goal was enough to earn Villa victory yesterday and extend Everton’s record at Villa Park to just one win in 23 visits.

The visitors dominated for long periods but Villa’s caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald was delighted with the result after this players bounced back from the 6-0 hammering at Newcastle United and then going out of Europe in midweek.

“If ever supporters doubted the desire of the players to win again, then that performance will have put that belief back into them,” said MacDonald.

“We rode our luck a bit but had four or five decent chances and, if we had been more clinical, the score could have been 4-2 or 4-3 to us.”

MacDonald will inform club owner Randy Lerner by tomorrow whether he wishes to be considered for the job on a permanent basis.