Lyon v Everton preview: Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka all rested

Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka will not travel with the Everton squad for their Europa League clash at Lyon on Thursday (kick-off 6pm).

Interim manager David Unsworth confirmed the trio would be rested ahead of their clash at home to Watford in the Premier League on Sunday.

"We just wanted to freshen it up with one eye on Sunday as well. Those lads have played a lot in a short space of time," Unsworth told reporters.

"We've done that and it's a great opportunity for others to come in and show me what they're all about and give me something to think about for Sunday."

Everton currently sit bottom of Group E after taking just one point from their opening three games and in the reverse fixture two weeks ago, Everton lost 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Team news

Unsworth confirmed that academy defender Morgan Feeney is heading to France with the senior squad, though any involvement would be from the bench.

Meanwhile, Michael Keane remains out with an infection after missing Saturday's loss at Leicester.

Seamus Coleman (leg), Ramiro Funes Mori, Yannick Bolasie (both knee) and Ross Barkley (hamstring) all remain out with injury.

For Lyon, Ferland Mendy returns after missing the clash two weeks ago. Amine Gouiri, 17, could also feature.

Opta stats

• Lyon's win at Goodison Park in the reverse fixture was the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides
• Six of Lyon's last seven home meetings with English sides have resulted in a draw, losing the other. They've not won at home vs English opposition since November 1967, beating Tottenham 1-0 in the Cup Winners' Cup
• The French side have won four of their last five home games in the Europa League, drawing the other. They've scored 17 goals in those games (3.4 per game), but have also failed to keep a clean sheet
• Everton have made the worst start of any English team in the Europa League group stages, picking up just one point from their three games
• The Toffees' only previous away trip to France in European competition was in the 2014-15 Europa League group stages - a 0-0 draw against Lille
• Everton haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight matches in major European competition.
• Lyon's starting XI in their game at Goodison was the youngest average starting XI in the Europa League this season (23y 149d)

Charlie's predictions

Well, the tough games just keep coming at Everton and I think this is just one they'll have to write off.

I just don't see any chance of David Unsworth getting this job, not because he's not decent, but because you need to win football matches to get the job and I just don't see where the goals or the clean sheets are coming from.

It's tough to know who he is going to play and he might as well throw a few more youngsters in here, leaving Wayne Rooney and company at home to get them ready for the weekend.

Memphis Depay is a show pony but these are the sort of games where he likes to show his ability, and I think Nabil Fekir and Mariano Diaz will give the Toffees a torrid night.

Charlie predicts: 2-0 Fekir to score first (22/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Everton are up against odds of 6/1 to stop the rot with a win as Sky Bet make Lyon their 4/9 favourites, with the draw is priced at 7/2. The Toffees are 11/2 to qualify and 66/1 to go on and win the Europa League following their winless start, while their hosts are odds-on to make the knockout stages and 25/1 outright sixth favourites. Mariano Diaz is the 7/2 first goalscorer favourite, less than half the price of Wayne Rooney at 15/2 to break the deadlock.

Play Super 6

Simply predict six correct scores to win the £250k jackpot. Enter your selections for free here.