Everton are training twice on Thursday, sessions once again split so the players avoid the worst of the Washington DC heat.
This morning they opened up their early practice to a selection of US-based Blues supporters and the media as an interested audience watched the players being put through their paces. Tim Howard and Leon Osman were also in attendance and happily engaged with fans during another tough few hours of work for the first team squad.
The ECHO was among those invited to the session, held on a sports campus just outside the US capital. This is a selection of the interesting features we spotted.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks raring to go
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed much of last season with injury and struggled for momentum for the games he was available. His landmark winner against Crystal Palace ensured he ended the campaign on a high, however, and the striker is determined to hit the ground running this season. With Richarlison having departed and an England World Cup squad to compete for a place within, the coming months will be huge for the 25-year-old.
He has returned from the off-season in great shape - genuinely impressing Everton's fitness coaches with his condition. And on Thursday morning it was clear he was playing with a degree of confidence as he repeatedly found the net during attack v defence training drills. Alex Iwobi and Mason Holgate also looked sharp throughout another demanding session in heat approaching 30C.
Defensive relationships being tested as hunt for perfect partnership continues
During those drills it was interesting to see who was playing alongside each other. This may be rotated between sessions but this morning the defensive players were teamed up together while essentially having to defend two separate goals at the same time. Yerry Mina - whose distribution was repeatedly praised as the defenders were tasked with retaining the ball then preventing goals if they lost it - was situated alongside Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey at one end of the training pitch and James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, former teammates, were together in front of the opposite goal. Finding a centre back partnership - whether of two or three - will be crucial to Everton's season and there is clearly work to see who works best together.
Dele Alli the mischief-maker
Dele Alli is another player who has impressed staff with the condition he arrived in for pre-season. When taking part in the training exercise he was repeatedly in the thick of it and more than happy to wind up his friends on the opposite side. Alli thought he should have been given a penalty after claiming a foul by Holgate - much to Holgate's amusement as the centre back dismissed the appeal. Alli took seconds to influence proceedings again though - then winning a penalty, which he scored, by tempting Mina into a foul.
Andros Townsend impressing teammates with his fitness work
Andros Townsend is continuing his recovery from the horrific injury he suffered in the FA Cup game at Crystal Palace in March. Lampard has been vocal in his support for the 30-year-old this week, revealing his influence in the dressing room during last season's relegation battle. While the team took part in the main training exercise Townsend was working one-on-one with a fitness coach on the sideline, mainly doing resistance work. His session looked gruelling but Townsend's dedication caught the attention of a passing Seamus Coleman who stopped and watched his teammate, offering him vocal praise as he pushed his limits.
Leon Osman getting ready for his big moment
After the training session ended the players took time to speak to supporters and pose for photos. Away from them, Osman was limbering up and getting some practice in for his big moment on Thursday night. Osman is due to throw the ceremonial first pitch as the Washington Nationals - World Series winners in 2019 - take on the Atlanta Braves. When he was told about this on the plane to the USA his first question was apparently to ask just how far he would have to deliver the ball - just over 18 metres. On Thursday morning he was using his free time to get some practice throws in with a Blues supporter.
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