Don Hutchison made his mark after a five-week exile with the goal that gave Everton a point, but poor Nicky Barmby must have wished the ground had opened up under him as he tried to impress England boss Kevin Keegan.

Barmby ran himself ragged, and played pretty well, with Keegan in the stand making his promised check on the midfielder with Euro 2000 in mind.

But Barmby wasted two glorious second-half chances to win the game for Everton.

Leicester had taken an early lead through Gerry Taggart, but with their European place already assured they barely looked interested at times.

The sad moments in the match surrounded London-born Muzzy Izzet, who because of his Turkish father has decided to try his luck with the Turks for Euro 2000.

That was enough to make him a constant target for abuse from the visiting fans, following the dreadful scenes in Istanbul during the week. Booing Izzet seemed somewhat pointless and did nothing for the reputation of the Merseyside fans.

Stan Collymore, the man who could have made a difference for Leicester, was sitting in the press box with his new media-friendly image, working for local radio. With him on the pitch Leicester might have just had the cutting edge needed.

Collymore's broken leg of last weekend gave 34-year-old Tony Cottee the chance to start his first game in a month.

The return, though, of Hutchison was more significant after spending seven games in isolation following his run-in with boss Walter Smith over a contract row.

But his comeback was probably more out of necessity than anything else, with Mark Hughes suspended and Kevin Campbell and Francis Jeffers out injured.

Leicester, already in Europe, and Everton with only limited chances of joining them, looked early on at least as if they both had their minds set on the summer holidays, so uninspired was the play. Football in flip-flops, former Everton boss Howard Kendall once famously called such efforts.

Leicester opted to play Matt Elliott up front in the first half until Ian Marshall replaced Stefan Oakes, and the big Scot tested Paul Gerrard in the sixth minute with a low drive from Izzet's corner, and then headed straight at Gerrard from Steve Guppy's cross.

The visiting fans were howling at Izzet as he took an eighth minute corner, but they were silenced instantly when Taggart rose to head Leicester in front on the six-yard line.

Everton took far too long to get going, there was no spark about their play, or pace to get behind defenders. A 20th minute long cross from Stephen Hughes was headed wide by Barmby, but Leicester's driving midfield players Neil Lennon and Oakes were constantly getting clear of their markers.

But after 26 minutes the Merseysiders were level, and Hutchison made his mark dramatically.

Barmby produced the sort of cross that would have delighted David Beckham. Hutchison met it with power, having got above Taggart, to bullet a header past Tim Flowers.

Barmby was looking for the ball at every opportunity and Hutchison was finding his Premiership legs after so long on the sidelines. Hutchison went down under a challenge from Robbie Savage in the box, but it was a highly optimistic claim for a penalty.

A better shout came at the other end after 40 minutes. Cottee spun and stumbled over a challenge from Weir, partially regaining his feet to stab a shot into Gerrard's hands as he fell. Referee Alan Wiley rejected the loud claims, complete with a typical Martin O'Neill bouncing, leaping rant on the sidelines.

Taggart was booked for a foul on Hutchison after 51 minutes, and then Marshall made his presence felt with a header from Guppy's right-wing free-kick after 59 minutes, another player Keegan must surely have been looking at.

Savage's cross after 62 minutes was met by Cottee, and his header looped over the bar.

Having already brought on Danny Cadamarteri for the injured Moore, Everton then lost Gough after 63 minutes with a damaged left leg, being replaced by Richard Dunne.

Barmby then had two fine chances to settle it, the first on 69 minutes when he scuffed an effort from eight yards after Dunne's pulled back pass, and then five minutes later when Gilchrist hooked the ball off his toes just a yard out after Flowers had palmed a Cadamarteri shot across the six-yard box.

Leicester fans now mocked him with their own "Barmby for England" jeers!

Teams:

Leicester: Flowers, Taggart, Guppy, Savage, Gilchrist, Impey, Izzet (Zagorakis 80), Lennon, Oakes (Marshall 46), Elliott, Cottee (Dudfield 65).

Subs Not Used: Walsh, Arphexad.

Booked: Taggart, Guppy.

Goals: Taggart 8.

Everton: Gerrard, Gough (Dunne 62), Unsworth, Weir, Xavier, Pembridge, Collins, Barmby, S. Hughes (Ball 84), Hutchison, Moore (Cadamarteri 43).

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Milligan.

Goals: Hutchison 27.

Att: 18,705

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).