Season › 2011-12 › News Queens Park Rangers vs Everton Lyndon Lloyd , 2 March, 27comments | Jump to most recent Match Preview Everton are in Premier League action for the first time in three weeks following their success in the FA Cup fifth round against Blackpool and a fortnight's break that has allowed some of David Moyes's walking wounded to take large strides towards returning to the first team. Indeed, with Nikica Jelavic, Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman all seeing action in midweek, Moyes looks likely to have rare breadth in his selection options for this weekend's trip to Queens Park Rangers, the team that got Moyes's season off to such a poor start when inflicted a 1-0 defeat on the Blues at Goodison Park back in August. True to recent trends, Everton under Moyes have found some form in the second half of the season and are well placed to mount a challenge for Europa League qualification, particularly now that the glut of injuries is easing as we heading into the final third of the campaign. Arguably the most anticipated of those returning players is Jelavic who has been at Goodison for a month now but, thanks to a troublesome groin injury, has managed just half-an-hour's action for the Blues. The Croatian came through a substitute's appearance for Croatia in midweek and looks set to take his place on Everton's bench this weekend. A start, given his lack of match fitness and the form of Denis Stracqualursi is unlikely. Article continues below video content Osman (knee) and Rodwell (hamstring) played for the Reserves against Bolton as they look to return from medium-term injury layoffs and both will be hoping to join Jelavic in the squad with one of them possibly going straight back into the starting line-up. That's because Darron Gibson is ruled out with a knee injury he sustained in training with the Republic of Ireland last week. He could be out until the end of the month. On the flanks, Steven Pienaar returns after being ineligible for the Blackpool tie — he should face the team he nearly joined in the January transfer window before making his last-minute switch to Goodison — and Royston Drenthe and Seamus Coleman will be vying for the starting berth on the right now that Landon Donovan has returned to the United States. In defence, Phil Jagielka is making good progress with his own recovery from a knee injury but the visit to Loftus Road is probably too soon for him so Sylvain Distin and John Heitinga will continue in central defence. Everton will be looking to further their recent run of form, particularly away from home where they have lost just once — that defeat coming at White Hart Lane in January — with what would be just their second win on QPR's home turf in their last six visits. And Rangers' own home form lately will give the Blues cause for optimism. The Londoners have lost seven games at Loftus Road this season, had five players sent off and made a habit of throwing away points from winning positions. They have strengthened since returning to the top flight with key purchases like Shaun Wright-Phillips and Bobby Zamora but they come into the weekend sitting a place above a tightly-packed bottom three on goal difference. Djibril Cisse and Samba Diakite are both suspended after picking up red cards recently but Luke Young could return after missing two games with a hamstring injury. Lyndon Lloyd » Read more Live Matchday Forum Reader Comments (27) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads