Promise at last from Everton after first pre-season win

Everton had so far failed to win any of their warm-up games after a draw at Sligo Rovers and then a three-goal defeat at Coventry City.

Today's match was a chance for the Blues to get back on track and generate some positive vibes for the supporters.

Winning these games is not that important as such, what is more important is to improve the fitness of players coming back from their holidays and giving some squad members a chance to impress.

Unfortunately, those fringe players had not done a lot to give Sean Dyche any pause for thought about who his first-choice starters will be when the new campaign kicks off in a few weeks time.

However, this afternoon most of the individuals Dyche is likely to pick for the season opener against Brighton and Hove Albion played, and many of them impressed.

In particular, new signings and debutants Jake O'Brien and Jesper Lindstrom both scored and were very effective.

Lindstrom showcased his pace and willingness to run at the opposition - both of which the Blues need a lot more of - and had a great chance to open his Everton account before curling in a fine free-kick later in the match.

Meanwhile, O'Brien when he came on he defended superbly well and also fired in a shot from the edge of the area.

In addition, Tim Iroegbunam had another solid game in midfield following an impressive effort in the Coventry defeat.

He has made a case for a starting place in the Toffees engine room where there is a degree of uncertainty about who will play there.

Hopefully, this sort of performance and contribution is a harbinger for the coming season and we will see consistent productivity from all these players.

As well as the new players, it was also good to see returning veterans such as Idrissa Gueye and Ashley Young put in decent displays as well.

Gueye especially, will have an important role to play next season particularly when he could be surrounded by younger and much more inexperienced players like Iroegbunam.

I would not expect 38-year-old Young to start many games in the coming campaign, but given that Seamus Coleman is also well over thirty and Nathan Patterson has had so many injuries, he may be called upon now and again.

James Tarkowski reassuringly returned from injury as did Vitalii Mykolenko and Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil - who were the starting wide attackers last season - were much more effective too.

Another positive was that Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the net after a series of misses when he stepped up and successfully notched from the spot for the opening goal.

Calvert-Lewin though might not be an Everton player when the new season kicks off or soon afterwards, if current transfer rumours turn out to be correct.

If he does leave the Blues will need to find another centre-forward, if money is available - unless Dyche is radical enough to give Yousef Chermiti a real chance - which seems unlikely.

That is because the other candidates Beto and Neal Maupay do not instill much confidence in their ability to lead the line and score the goals needed.