Everton have released some new photographs from a training session at Finch Farm on Wednesday with the squad looking to be in high spirits as they prepare for Saturday’s home match against Nottingham Forest.
After losing their first two games of the Premier League season, Frank Lampard’s side will be hoping to collect their first victory of the campaign this weekend against their big-spending newly-promoted opponents who picked up their first three points in the competition since 1999 when they defeated David Moyes’ West Ham United 1-0 at the City Ground last Sunday.
Here’s five things spotted as Everton’s players were put through their paces.
Wanted men go head to head
Both Anthony Gordon and Dele Alli have been attracting admiring glances from potential suitors in recent days in very different circumstances but while others might covet their services, the pair both looked committed to the cause as they gave it their all at Everton’s training ground. Home-grown hero Gordon has been targeted by Premier League rivals Chelsea but Goodison Park chiefs are understood to have no interest in entertaining bids for the 21-year-old who enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season last term.
In contrast, Everton have given the green light for Dele’s exit less than seven months after he joined from Tottenham Hotspur. The England international has started just one match for the Blues – the 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on the final day of last season after their Premier League status was secured – and now Besiktas are offering him the chance to resurrect his career in Turkey.
New boys getting up to speed
Everton’s biggest signing of the summer Amadou Onana has spoken of how he “gets chills” at the thought of stepping out at Goodison Park for his home debut and the Belgian international has been working on his fitness after coming off the bench for his Blues bow at Villa Park last Saturday. Lampard admitted the towering 6ft 5in midfielder wasn’t quite match sharp for that one but he’s putting in the hard yards at Finch Farm now and could be seen taking part in a sprinting drill alongside fellow new recruit Dwight McNeil.
Team talk
While there were plenty of smiles among what appeared to be a generally light-hearted session, the players stopped to concentrate as they gathered around in a group when manager Lampard went through some instructions while carrying his clipboard. The 44-year-old Blues boss will be keeping a level head after a tough start to the season and remains popular with the club’s fanbase but he’ll also be acutely aware of the importance of this weekend’s fixture and getting some first points on the board.
Coady glad to be here
He might be a former Liverpool player but native Merseysider Conor Coady was desperate to come home when Everton gave him the chance to resurrect his Premier League career after falling out of favour at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he was captain. That enthusiasm was evident here as the defender showed as big a grin as anyone at times during the session.
Beg to differ?
Perhaps the strangest Everton exit rumour this week surrounded understudy goalkeeper Asmir Begovic being reportedly wanted by Manchester United as back-up for David De Gea who produced a nightmare performance in their 4-0 thrashing at Brentford last Saturday evening. The veteran Bosnia and Herzegovina international looked unfazed by the speculation here as he went through his usual routines with England number one Jordan Pickford and Andy Lonergan and why not, who would actually want to choose to go to Old Trafford and watch all that chaos unfold right now?
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