David Unsworth has thrown his hat in the ring to become Everton's next full-time manager and thinks by Sunday, his case will have been made one way or the other.

The Toffees lace Lyon tonight before hosting Watford at Goodison Park three days later, with the hosts on a run of seven games without a win in all competitions.

And Unsworth, who has been talked up and down in equal measure about his chances of getting the job, is under no illusion how much rides on the next two games.

“Sunday's a cup final for me," he said. "I think we've got to play it like a cup final, I certainly want the players to play it like a cup final.

“But that doesn't scare me, because I know the game, and I know that in the end you will be judged, I know, on performances – and I think performances have improved for a game and a half, certainly second half against Leicester.

"But within those performances, you've got to try and dig out some results."

Unsworth has rested Phil Jagielka, Wayne Rooney and Leighton Baines ahead of Sunday's game, with an eye on prioritising the Premier League clash with Watford over an unlikely path to the knock-out stages of the Europa League.

“You can't play God and you don't have a crystal ball, but I certainly picked the strongest team I think can go and win the game," Unsworth added. 

"But you do have to be clever, and you do have to try to have one eye on [squad rotation] when the games have come so thick and fast.”