Everton’s remaining players have been working hard at Finch Farm during in the current international break as they look to build upon their first Premier League win of the season when they defeated David Moyes’ West Ham United 1-0 at Goodison Park last time out. The Blues return to action at Southampton on October 1 and here are some things we spotted from photographs released from their Friday training session.
Forward thinking
Neal Maupay became the latest darling of the Gwladys Street when he netted his first Everton goal in front of the famous old stand to secure the three points against the Hammers with an instinctive turn and finish and the reputed £15million signing from Brighton & Hove Albion was in the thick of the action here too. However, there was no sign of fellow striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was left out of the matchday squad against West Ham with Frank Lampard saying: “We have to be cautious with him rather than take a risk because we want him for the long-term so it was more of a precaution” with subsequent claims suggesting he is now under supervision for a minor groin injury.
Allan still around
Speculation in recent days has suggested that with most of the transfer windows in football’s major leagues now closed, Everton’s Brazilian international midfielder Allan could be on the brink of a move to the United Arab Emirates. The 31-year-old was left out of the matchday squad to face West Ham and with Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies and new signing James Garner all on the bench, that makes the player who hasn’t featured all season seventh choice at best in his position but he was still taking part in the session and pictured challenging teenager Tom Cannon.
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Here for keeps?
Following the signing of free agent Eldin Jakupovic, Everton now have two Bosnia and Herzegovina-born goalkeepers in their squad as he joins Asmir Begovic and the pair were seen chatting in this session with England number one Jordan Pickford still sidelined along with Andy Lonergan. Jakupovic, 37, who served as an understudy at Leicester City for the previous five seasons is only with the Blues on a short-term deal for now but looks to be settling in well among his new surroundings.
Next generation
At the other end of the football age spectrum, the absence of some of Everton’s current internationals enabled Lampard to include a number of players from the Under-21s squad in the session and given the Blues boss’ track record for blooding youngsters, they’ll hope to have caught his eye. Those pictured taking part included Katia Kouyate (19); Halid Djankpata (17); Mathew Mallon (18); Joe Anderson (21); Kyle John (21) and Stanley Mills (18) who impressed during pre-season.
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