Everton will travel to Selhurst Park today to face league position rivals, Crystal Palace, with both teams desperate to take three points from the game.

If Everton can seal the deal with a second consecutive win over Patrick Vieira's side today, they have the chance of climbing back into the top half of the table, however, if they lose the game, Crystal Palace can leapfrog Everton and gain a spot in the top half, so it should be an interesting game for both sets of fans on Sunday afternoon.

One player who will more than likely make a return to the side for his eighth appearance for the Toffees this season is Mason Holgate.

The 25-year-old should start in the side today after Yerry Mina sustained yet another injury in Everton's victory over Arsenal. That saw the defender subbed off in the 33rd minute with Rafa Benitez confirming that Mina will not be available for Everton's Premier League fixture away from home this weekend.

Holgate has never been able to take himself to the next level but the defender was highly thought of by Carlo Ancelotti, who once said:

“He has the quality to be at the top as a defender. He is fast, strong physically and good with his head.

“He is really competitive. He is a fighter. But to be a fighter, you have to use this quality in the right way."

There is currently a real window of opportunity for Holgate to establish himself in the defensive line by putting in important performances in the coming games ahead, with Mina injured and Lucas Digne reportedly entrapped in a feud with the manager, there has never been a better opportunity for the defender to prove he deserves to be in the starting eleven more consistently.

With 3.8 aerial duels won per game this term - more than any other Everton defender - he's certainly got what it takes to bully Crystal Palace this afternoon.

Thus, £18m-rated gem could have a real impact on an important win that is needed for the Toffees today.

It could also be a career-defining moment for him as to whether Benitez believes he has what it takes to become a long term solution for an injury-plagued Mina, or whether he must go into the upcoming transfer window to find a defender who can improve upon the current situation for Everton.

In other news: Rafa Benitez must unleash Andre Gomes against Crystal Palace