Everton are expecting a much tougher pre-season clash when they take on League 2 outfit Bury on 18 July after obliterating Austrian minnows ATV Irdning 22-0.
And while the Toffees will obviously not repeat such a feat in their upcoming game, manager Marco Silva will be demanding the same level of energy and intensity as he looks to get his squad up to speed for the new season. Under pressure to prove himself after things turned sour at Watford, the Portuguese needs to mould the Toffees’ expensively assembled squad into something much greater than that was on show last term.
With no new signings yet secured, though, what will Everton supporters be hoping to see when their current players take to the Gigg Lane pitch?
After the 22-0 demolition of Irdning, naturally, all the attention will be on Everton’s forwards with supporters being keen for another goal fest.
That being said and, even though Bury will not provide the biggest threat in attack, a confident performance from Michael Keane could go a long way and put him in contention for a good year.
Much was expected of the 25-year-old after his big-money move from Burnley to Goodison Park. Under Sean Dyche, Keane showed himself to be one of the most promising defenders in the country, but is yet to transfer that over to Merseyside.
With Silva looking to bring in a new central defender this summer as well, Keane will be determined to make an instant impression as the Everton faithful remain hopeful of the former Burnley defender coming good for the upcoming season.
The return of Ademola Lookman from loan has Everton supporters licking their lips, and they will be looking forward to seeing the 20-year-old putting on the blue shirt once again when the team takes on Bury.
Lookman – like practically the rest of his team – scored a hat-trick in the dismantling on Irdning.
But regardless of the opposition, as he showed with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga during the second half of the last campaign, Lookman has the attributes and the potential to develop into a high-calibre winger.
Everton fans could be in for a good show when the former Charlton man goes up against the Bury full-backs.
It was not the easiest of starts for Cenk Tosun in the Premier League after he joined Everton from Besiktas back in January, especially playing in Sam Allardyce’s defensive and rigid set up.
But since opening his account, Tosun has looked good. And, unsurprisingly, a striker of his quality against an opposition of Irdning’s standard, was able to net on four occasions.
The Goodison Park faithful will now be expecting for the Turkey international to not only carry that goalscoring form into the Bury game, but also into the club’s upcoming Premier League campaign with the goal of qualification for Europa League football a bare minimum.
