Everton’s preparations for their trip to Bolton Wanderers have been outlined by assistant manager Ian Woan

Assistant manager Ian Woan has outlined Everton’s plans for their third week of pre-season as the squad step up their preparations for the 2023/24 campaign.

With Blues boss Sean Dyche watching an Everton XI consisting of mostly under-21 players draw 1-1 at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, his number two Woan – alongside first team coach Steve Stone – took charge of the senior side for their 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic. After first reporting back to Finch Farm on Thursday, July 6, Everton had a week at an Alpine training camp by the shores of Lake Geneva which culminated with a 2-1 win over newly-promoted Swiss second tier side Stade Nyonnais on Friday, July 14.

ey then returned to their Halewood base for a week of hard work that included the Dyche pre-season ritual of ‘Gaffer’s Day’ – a gruelling test of fitness, stamina and team spirit involving no ball work – last Tuesday before their second friendly at the DW Stadium. With two more games (at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday and Stoke City on Saturday) now on the horizon over the next seven days, Woan explained how things will shape up.

He told evertontv: “The players got a day off on Sunday then it will be back to work on the Monday. We’ll do a little roll call and see how they feel because that was their first 90 minutes, so I’m sure they’re going to be a little bit stiff but we’ll have a look on Monday and get going again.”

Not only will Everton’s squad be bolstered by Arnaut Danjuma, whose loan move from Villarreal was confirmed on Sunday, but the return of James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite (England Under-21s) plus Demarai Gray (Jamaica) from international duty. Woan said: “It boosts the squad a little bit. I think every senior team player that was available to us was on the pitch with us at Wigan, apart from Mason Holgate, who was with the Under-21s as he comes back from injury.

“We wanted to get him some playing time and he offered up, so fair play to him as that’ll be good for him. We are a little bit shy on numbers but we get the three internationals back next week and then hopefully a couple of the injured boys who are closing in on a return towards the end of the week as well.”

One player who has already made an instant impact is debutant Ashley Young, who netted the only goal of the game at the DW Stadium on Saturday. Woan was understandably impressed by the new boy and said: “He brings so much character around the dressing room.

“To bring someone in of his calibre and experience is invaluable to us. He’s a really solid campaigner.”