Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury, manager David Moyes has confirmed.

Arteta snapped a cruciate ligament during a match against Newcastle in February.

He was expected to step up his rehabilitation in the next month only to suffer an infection in the injury.

Moyes said: "We have had to wash out the knee. It is a setback but I cannot say for how long."

Moyes will be again down on numbers for the Europa League match against Benfica on Thursday night at Goodison Park.

John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are sidelined as they are both ineligible for the Group I game.

Louis Saha (calf), Tony Hibbert (flu) are doubtful but Steven Pienaar could be on the bench after a knee problem.

Leon Osman, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka and Victor Anichebe remain absent.

Everton team (from): Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Bilyaletdinov, Pienaar, Cahill, Fellaini, Rodwell, Yakubu, Saha, Jo, Nash, Gosling, Coleman, Duffy, Agard, Wallace, Akpan.