Everton u23 play Flint on Saturday 8th July 2017

Young Blues Ready For Flint Exam

Unsworth's side to tackle Welsh outfit after week of preparation at Hope University (kick off 3pm).

David Unsworth has declared Everton Under-23s’ first week of pre-season a success, ahead of the squad’s first summer friendly against Flint on Saturday afternoon.

Like the first team, the young Blues have been hard at work on the USM Finch Farm training pitches since reporting back on Monday after their summer break.

The Under-23s have also been spending the afternoons using the state-of-the-art gymnasium facilities at nearby Hope University - part of the agreement which saw first-team fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg, Blues ambassador Graeme Sharp and Everton in the Community Executive Chair, Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale MBE, make a special visit to the campus back in March.

Unsworth believes the combination of work at the regular Halewood training base and the university has already been extremely beneficial in the crucial early stages.



“The players had about five or six weeks off but were all given their individual programmes to keep fit over the summer period,” said the former Toffees defender. “They all followed that and came back in great shape.

“The university is only 10 minutes away and it’s a great campus. I’m delighted that we can use the facilities there because the people at Hope have been very generous and helpful in allowing us to come along.

“The lads love the facilities there and there’s a lovely feel about the university. There’s modern equipment - it’s bright, clean and classy. It’s nice to come away from Finch Farm for a few days because we are there for 10 months of the year.”



Speaking about the specifics of the pre-season programme so far, Unsworth added: “We’ve been training every morning with the ball on the pitch. We’ve been doing a lot of ball-familiarity work, small possession games, literally getting thousands and thousands of touches. Lots of technique work to get the speed and tempo back.

“Every afternoon we’ve come to Hope University and done different sessions. We’ve done upper and lower body work, flexibility and strength classes. We’ve rotated it pretty well and the fitness coaches have led all that. John [Ebbrell], Franny [Jeffers] and I have been there in the afternoons for moral support more than anything!”

Log on to evertonfc.com on Saturday evening for a match report of the pre-season friendly against Flint.

Kick-off at Cae-Y-Castell is 3pm. Cost of admission is £5 for adults, £3 for juniors (under 16) and senior citizens.

Everton FC