Everton and Aston Villa meet in the FA Cup on Sunday, with visiting striker Benito Carbone planning to wear lucky blue boots at Goodison Park.

But Everton defender David Unsworth is equally confident of cup success for a set of fans who want to paint Wembley blue in May.

In a season which has seen more than its fair share of cup shocks, this is the only all-Premiership tie in the last eight of the cup.

Villa arrive in impressive form, with manager John Gregory bidding to answer his autumn critics with further New Year progress.

But Everton are unbeaten at home this season and Unsworth says a cup final appearance would be the perfect way to repay new owner Bill Kenwright.

"Taking Everton to Wembley would be a big step in the right direction to making this club great again," said Unsworth.

The left-back is the only likely starter in Sunday's match to have played in Everton's 1995 cup triumph, before a brief spell with West Ham and an even shorter stay at Sunday's visitors.

"Going to Wembley would be the best present we can give Bill, and also the fans too," he said.

"They have stuck by us through the bad times, and now things are finally getting sorted out with regard to the ownership of the club - a Wembley date would be just the thing to top off the season."

Unsworth returns from suspension while manager Walter Smith's only minor worry is Richard Gough's hip injury, although the veteran Scot is expected to be fit.

Meanwhile Unsworth insists he bears Gregory and his club no ill-will despite the bizarre way he walked in and out of Villa Park 18 months ago.

"I met John Gregory in the tunnel when Villa were here earlier in the season and we shook hands and wished each other good luck," he recalled.

That Goodison meeting in November was a drab 0-0 draw during Villa's autumn slump.

And the man who came closest to winning the game is as determined as Unsworth to end his season under the Twin Towers, with or without his lucky blue boots.

Carbone hit the post late on in the league meeting but has since ended a goal drought after turning to his forgotten footwear.

"Winning the FA Cup would be the best thing to happen in my life," said the Italian.

The blue boots came out for his fifth round hat trick against Leeds, and were worn as he grabbed two more goals in a 4-0 demolition of Middlesbrough last Monday.

"I wore them in Italy and for Sheffield Wednesday and I wear them every game now and I hope they give me the chance to score against Everton," he explained.

"But with or without my boots I think that if Villa play like we have done over the last 10 or 11 games then we will not have a problem."

Free-scoring midfielder Ian Taylor is fully fit after recovering from an ankle injury while Villa's main injury worry concerns David James.

The goalkeeper suffered a knee injury at Middlesbrough and Finnish under-21 international Peter Enckelman is on stand-by for Goodison after recently revovering from injury.

Gregory will take no risk with James after a gamble after a previous leg injury backfired at Arsenal earlier this season.

Villa conceded from a free kick for alleged time-wasting as James tried to throw the ball rather than kick.

"He is 50-50. He will need to be 100% otherwise I won't risk him," said Gregory.

"He can do all the goalkeeping work but he can't kick the ball and that is 50% of the game."