Two thirds of Everton’s informal ‘gym club’ were among the first to step into Finch Farm on the first day of pre-season.
Nathan Patterson and Dwight McNeil were two of the initial senior players to arrive at the Halewood complex as preparations for the upcoming season kicked-off. The pair formed a gym training friendship last season, though were without the third member of the group - Tom Davies. Davies left his boyhood club last week after turning down a new contract with the Blues.
Sean Dyche was already in work and waiting as his players answered the 8am roll call. It will be his first pre-season at the Blues and ahead of what could be a tough summer in the transfer market he is ready to do what he can to give his squad the best chance of being competitive, however big it will be come the end of the transfer window. When dealing with the injury issues that plagued his squad in the final weeks of the last campaign, Dyche hinted at a belief some of their issues may have been avoided had he been working with them longer. Now is his chance to build them into a season from day one.
One player who knows exactly what to expect from a Dyche pre-season is McNeil, who came through the ranks at Burnley under Dyche. Speaking at Finch Farm, he said: "We know it’s going to be a tough pre-season but I think it brings that team bonding in pre-season that hopefully will put us in good stead going into a massive season.”
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McNeil - and fellow former players under Dyche at Turf Moor, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane - will know all about what is awaiting them. That includes the notorious ‘Gaffer’s Day’, a day of pure fitness work dominated by running and during which footballs are essentially banned.
Tarkowski, who got married during the summer break, was all smiles when he parked up in the dedicated first team players’ area of the car park on Thursday despite knowing what was to come. Other images released by the club of the player arrivals offered positives. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson, who both ended last season injured, were shown working in the gym. Both players have endured difficult times with injury over the past two seasons and they have each been working hard to rebuild their strength over the off-season. Patterson has been a frequent visitor to Finch Farm while Calvert-Lewin travelled to Germany for specialist work at a clinic in Munich. Meanwhile Dele Alli, who Dyche will take a look at this summer but in the knowledge that seven league appearances will cost the club £10m, was another of the first to arrive as he started a massive few weeks for his career with intent.
The first day back started with two hours of medical examinations, tests including dental and vision check-ups. Two hours of gym work followed either side of lunch as coaches oversaw benchline tests. In the afternoon the players took to the grass for the first time as they headed out onto the training pitches.
The first day back was not just for senior players with academy starlets also involved. Among them were Lewis Warrington and Tom Cannon, two players who could potentially get a chance under Dyche. Warrington has had two successful loan spells and with the departure of Tom Davies there is a slot in the first team squad for another central midfielder, while Everton need forward options and during his loan spell at Preston North End, Cannon showed he could already cause trouble for defenders at as high a standard as the Championship. Preston are among the clubs that would love to secure Cannon on loan but should the club exploit the interest in fellow academy striker Ellis Simms there could also be a chance for the 20-year-old to make a case for staying at Finch Farm.
Another player who returned to duty and who has similar ambitions is Joao Virginia. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has spent the last few seasons out on loan but the departure of Asmir Begovic has created a space for a back-up keeper. Everton confirmed on Thursday that last season’s third choice keeper Andy Lonergan had signed for a further 12 months but while that is a boost for Dyche, he will want another in the first team squad and with money thought to be tight he may have to promote someone already at Finch Farm.
