Everton Women face Newcastle United Women in a key Subway Players Cup group stage match at Goodison Park this Wednesday, with kick-off at 7pm. The fixture offers a direct chance to build momentum towards qualification for the knockout rounds, a target manager Scott Phelan has explicitly emphasised.

Phelan is expected to name a strong side, with captain Megan Finnigan returning from injury to bolster the defence. The forward line is likely to feature Hannah Cain, who has scored two WSL goals this season, alongside Honoka Hayashi and Aurora Galli. Galli provided an assist in the previous cup match, a 2-0 win over Birmingham City last month. Goalkeeper Rylee Foster-Inman is set to start, while recent signing Jutta Rantala could be included in the matchday squad again.

Newcastle arrive as leaders of WSL 2, having scored 14 goals and conceded just once in five league games. They are managed by Tanya Oxtoby and pose a significant threat through prolific scorer Martha Thomas, who has five goals this term, and the experienced Jordan Nobbs. Everton will need to be at their best to secure a second consecutive cup victory, especially after defeating this same Newcastle side 2-0 in a league fixture just days ago.

The Subway Players Cup format sees the top eight teams from the group phase progress to the knockout stages. Everton currently have four group games remaining after this one, including home fixtures against Durham and Manchester United and trips to Sunderland and Sheffield United. The team's immediate focus, however, is on securing a positive result to strengthen their position in the group standings.

This cup tie comes during a mixed run of league form for Everton, who sit sixth in the FA WSL with nine points from six matches. Their league campaign has seen them score 8 goals while conceding 10. The team will be looking to translate their recent victory over Newcastle into a performance that builds confidence for their next league fixture against Manchester City.

Phelan has highlighted the importance of squad depth and managing player minutes across competitions, with a busy schedule ahead. The return of Finnigan is a timely boost for a defensive unit looking to build consistency.

Tickets for Wednesday's game at Goodison Park are priced at £12 for adults and £6 for under-18s. A food and drink package is available for £18 and £11 respectively. Tickets can be bought online, by phone on 0151 556 1878, or at the South Stand Ticket Office at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. On matchday, the Park End ticket office opens 90 minutes before kick-off. A pre-bookable Buggy Park for families will be located at the corner of the Park End and Bullens Road stands, opening one hour before the game.

Read the full report at evertonfc.com