Ross Barkley returns from knee injury, will make first start of season against Aston Villa

Everton sits just above the bottom three in the Premier League table heading into Saturday's contest against Aston Villa, stuck in their lowest position in three years.

It's been a slog for Roberto Martinez and company early this season, but the manager did receive some good news that he hopes will help turn things around, beginning today.

Prodigious midfielder Ross Barkley is in the lineup for the first time this season, recovering from knee ligament damage that he suffered during a training session in August.