As their preparations for the upcoming campaign continue, Everton secured a second consecutive pre-season win with a one goal triumph at Wigan Athletic this afternoon.
The goalscorerer was the oldest player on the pitch as Ashley Young rolled back the years with a fine all-round display capping it off with his first goal for his new club, making his debut.
So, on an unseasonably grey and wet day, Everton defeated their Northwest neighbours from League One to maintain a perfect record in pre-season matches.
38-year-old Young was the standout player in a more attacking position than perhaps he is used to recently having spent most of his time at Aston Villa last season operating in defence.
He fired in with his left foot after seeing a right foot shot rebound and it proved enough for the Blues to beat a well organised Latics side.
Obviously, these games won’t tell us much about the upcoming season and they are primarily just an excercise to ensure players are getting up to speed with their fitness.
Still, it’s always good to win matches and although Sean Dyche wasn’t at the ground to see it as he choose to attend the under-21s clash at Tranmere (which finished in a 1-1 draw) the manager will have been pleased overall.
As well as his new signing getting on the scoresheet, several other players looked quite sharp and performed well enough.
Nathan Patterson was lively showing good energy at right-back getting up and down the flank as he always likes to.
Evertonians have to keep their fingers crossed he can stay healthy this coming campaign as his ability to provide an attacking outlet from wide will be important to Everton improving offensively.
Alex Iwobi looked comfortable operating in central midfield again where he had been at his best last season under Frank Lampard.
He could be an option centrally again next season for Dyche, especially if the Toffees do manage to sign a couple of wide players.
Out wide, Dwight McNeil also had a good game swapping wings and putting in some excellent balls as he was doing so much of in the second half of last season. He had a few half chances too.
However, the glaring issue yet again was the lack of firepower up front as Neal Maupay once more laboured badly to make any impression.
There are fresh rumours that Italian club Salernitana are keen on signign the French striker, possibly in a swap deal for their Senegalese star Boulaye Dia.
After last season and on this showing again, that is a deal I am sure must Blues supporters would approve of.
New faces who can find the back of the net, is of course Dyche’s number one priority and as this match underlined further, those additions cannot come soon enough.