Everton begin their pre-season programme with a friendly against Dundee at Dens Park, with kick-off at 2pm BST. The match rounds off a week-long training camp in Scotland and is the first of seven warm-up fixtures before the Premier League season starts.
Team News and Absentees
The Blues will be without Iliman Ndiaye, who is resting after reaching the last 32 of the World Cup with Senegal, and Jordan Pickford, who is with the England squad for the third-place play-off against France in Miami. However, the travelling squad includes new signing Hayden Hackney, as well as Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George, whose loan moves have been made permanent. Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite also returns.
New Signings in Focus
Hayden Hackney, the highly rated midfielder signed from Middlesbrough for an initial £16.5m, will make his first appearance for Everton. Merlin Rohl's move from Freiburg was made permanent once Everton mathematically secured safety, while Tyrique George returns after a promising loan spell from Chelsea. According to Paul Wheelock of the Liverpool ECHO, these additions have lifted the mood among fans after a difficult end to last season.
What to Expect
Joe Thomas, reporting from Dens Park, will provide live updates. The friendly offers a chance to see new faces and assess the squad's form ahead of the new campaign. Everton failed to win any of their final seven league matches last season, with defeats to Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur particularly disappointing. The club hopes the new signings and a strong pre-season will lead to an improved campaign.
