Rodwell keen to heal Everton wounds

Everton will be looking to get their UEFA Europa League campaign back on track at home to SL Benfica, with midfielder Jack Rodwell convinced the Merseysiders can "prove a point" against the side that defeated them 5-0 on Matchday 3.

No revenge
That result, Everton's heaviest loss in UEFA club competition, pushed David Moyes's team back down to second in Group I, but they would return to the summit if they can overcome their Portuguese tormentors at Goodison Park. "It's not so much about revenge, but to prove a point that we're still, we believe, the strongest team in the group and hopefully the strongest team in the competition," said Rodwell. "Nothing's over, you know. We've just got to win our next game and hopefully we'll see it through and then go on further in the competition."

Injury situation
The Toffees had eleven senior players missing in Lisbon, either through injury or ineligibility, with left-back Leighton Baines pulling out at the last minute. His absence meant a senior debut for young right-back Seamus Coleman on the opposite flank of an unfamiliar back four, and Benfica tormented that experimental rearguard all evening. Baines featured in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa FC on Saturday, however, and Rodwell hopes more players can return before Thursday. "With more players coming back, I think we'll finish strong," said the 18-year-old. "We've had a lot of players missing all season but always managed to do well, so we're not going to make excuses – but yes, we've got a few good players coming back and hopefully that will help us further on down the line in the competition."

Concentration lacking
The England Under-21 international also feels his team have nothing to fear from the visitors, who, after taking a first-half lead, owed the scale of their victory to a punishing three-goal burst in the first seven minutes after the interval. "The first half, I thought we were more than capable; we matched Benfica," he explained. "A shocking five minutes in the second half killed us off, really. I think we came out lacking concentration and they scored on 46, 47 and then I think 52 [minutes], and before you know it you're 4-0 down and you're always going to chase the game from then on. We feel if we hadn't conceded those early goals, we might have been able to get something from the game."