Hayden Hackney during the Everton pre-season training trip to Scotland on July 13, 2026
Hayden Hackney during the Everton pre-season training trip to Scotland on July 13, 2026
Photographs have been released of Everton’s first day at their Scottish training camp ahead of their opening pre-season friendly against Dundee on Saturday.
Some 48 days after they played their final fixture of 2025/26, losing 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues returned to pre-season training at Finch Farm on Friday. Although the players went through the usual series of physical examinations, encompassing medical checks and gym work with their programme including strength and joint exercises plus body fat, blood and heart tests, they also went straight back into ball work at their Halewood base.
Most of the squad were present apart from the World Cup quartet. enjoyed a double milestone in England’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway on Saturday in which he became the first opposition goalkeeper not to concede in an international to Erling Haaland for 636 days, as he won his 90th cap in what was his 18th appearance in the tournament, breaking the Three Lions’ all-time record previously held by Peter Shilton.
Pickford is now set to face Argentina in Wednesday night’s semi-final in Atlanta and regardless of the result, Thomas Tuchel’s side are guaranteed an eighth game in the competition this weekend with both the final and third-place play-off. Players get three weeks off from their point of elimination so with Scotland going out in the first round, is due back next week.
Senegal pair and Idrissa Gueye went out in the round of 32 on July 1 when their side squandered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Belgium. Although there is no definitive return date for Ndiaye, he would therefore be expected back before Everton head to Germany.
On the same day his nation exited the competition, Gueye officially lapsed into free agency as his Blues contract expired. On June 10, the club announced they were continuing to liaise with representatives of the midfielder over his future but there has been no
subsequent update as of yet.
The player, who turns 37 on September 26, has made 236 appearances for Everton across two spells, scoring 10 goals. However, his wife Pauline sent tongues wagging of her “busy packing” on social media, telling her Instagram followers she’d had “long days sorting,” while Senegal were preparing for their final group game against Iraq.
The ECHO understands both the Blues and Gueye himself are comfortable with the situation and exploring the best options for the future with no definitive resolution at this stage.
Everton flew up to Scotland on Monday and held a late afternoon session at their base. They face Dundee at their 11,775 capacity Dens Park home at 2pm on Saturday.
The Dark Blues finished eighth in the Scottish Premiership last season and their head coach is former Scotland international centre-back Steven Pressley, who as a player had spells at local rivals Dundee United – who are based on the other side of Tannadice Street – as well as both ‘Old Firm’ clubs, Rangers and Celtic.
Tyler Dibling shares a joke with new signing Tyrique George
Tyler Dibling shares a joke with new signing Tyrique George
Jarrad Branthwaite leans against a small set of goal posts
Jarrad Branthwaite leans against a small set of goal posts
Merlin Rohl's loan deal has now become a permanent switch and the midfielder is shown passing the ball to fellow new signing Tyrique George
Merlin Rohl's loan deal has now become a permanent switch and the midfielder is shown passing the ball to fellow new signing Tyrique George (Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC/SmartFrame) 3 of 15