The ECHO takes a look at the Everton squad David Moyes is set to begin pre-season with
Tyler Dibling in action during the Premier League match between Everton and Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Tyler Dibling in action during the Premier League match between Everton and Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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David Moyes will have close to a full squad available for Everton’s first pre-season friendly.
The Blues’ summer will kick off at Dundee FC on Saturday, July 18 - a game that will start a run of six friendlies before the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, August 22.
With only four players having travelled to the World Cup, Moyes should have a strong squad to choose from.
That group will likely include new signing Hayden Hackney and Tyrique George who is looking set to return to Everton after the club agreed an initial £18m deal with Chelsea for the winger.
There is also the possibility of Jarrad Branthwaite being involved as he seeks to build towards the season after a year blighted by injury.
The centre-back’s campaign ended with him being stretchered off against Liverpool in April but, as the ECHO has previously reported, his recovery is understood to have gone well and there is a belief he should be able to play in pre-season - though he may have his minutes managed to avoid putting him under too much pressure, too soon.
Everton will be without Jordan Pickford regardless of how long England stay in the World Cup (they were about to face Mexico in the last 16 as the ECHO went to press). The goalkeeper will be granted a break after the tournament that will see him miss the opening friendlies.
With player union Fifpro calling on clubs to provide minimum three-to-four week rest periods for players involved at the World Cup, it will likely be too soon for Iliman Ndiaye to return. The same would be true for his Senegal teammate Idrissa Gueye, should the Blues agree any fresh terms with the veteran following the expiration of his contract last week.
Nathan Patterson, whose Scotland side was eliminated after the group stages, could also be absent given the Dundee game will come at the end of a training camp in Scotland that is likely to see a number of academy players used to boost numbers.
The strength of the squad will be a boost to Moyes, who started pre-season last year with a threadbare group as Everton began their transition under the Friedkin Group.
The Blues boss has often looked back in amazement at the squad that was taken to the US for the Premier League Summer Series, with much of last season’s business done later in the window.
Should George’s arrival be signed off, there will be potential for him and Tyler Dibling to operate on the wings with the likes of James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Hackney, Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl and Harrison Armstrong competing for a midfield spot.
As it stands, there remains the potential for Jake O’Brien to resume duty out-of-position at right back, particularly if Patterson is not involved.
Bringing in a specialist right-back remains a summer priority for Everton.