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.
