Everton have released photographs from the first day of their Scottish training camp ahead of their opening pre-season friendly against Dundee on Saturday. The Blues returned to pre-season training at Finch Farm on Friday, 48 days after their final fixture of 2025/26, a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur.
Players underwent physical examinations including medical checks, gym work, strength and joint exercises, as well as body fat, blood and heart tests. They also went straight back into ball work at their Halewood base.
Squad absentees and World Cup commitments
Most of the squad were present apart from the World Cup quartet. Jordan Pickford enjoyed a double milestone in England's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway on Saturday, becoming the first opposition goalkeeper not to concede to Erling Haaland in 636 days. He won his 90th cap in his 18th World Cup appearance, breaking Peter Shilton's all-time Three Lions record. Pickford is set to face Argentina in Wednesday night's semi-final in Atlanta. 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. With Scotland going out in the first round, Nathan Patterson is due back next week. Senegal pair Iliman Ndiaye 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 be expected back before Everton head to Germany.
Idrissa Gueye contract situation
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. The player, who turns 37 on September 26, has made 236 appearances for Everton across two spells, scoring 10 goals.
His wife Pauline sent tongues wagging when she posted images 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.
Training camp details
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 as well as both 'Old Firm' clubs, Rangers and Celtic.
The released photographs show players including Tyler Dibling sharing a joke with new signing Tyrique George, Jarrad Branthwaite leaning against goal posts, Merlin Rohl passing to George, and James Garner looking to build on his Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards for 2025/26. Other images feature Beto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Thierno Barry, Jake O'Brien, James Tarkowski, David Moyes, teenager Braiden Graham, Michael Keane, Harrison Armstrong, Vitalii Mykolenko, Dwight McNeil, Charly Alcaraz, and Adam Aznou.
David Moyes is set to overhaul Harry Catterick's record for the most games in charge for an Everton manager next season. After back-to-back 13th place finishes, he will aim to steer the Blues to a 10th top-10 finish under his stewardship.
