Everton FC travels to Stuttgart on Saturday for what will be their final friendly being staged overseas this preseason. After this weekend comes a Wednesday trip to Newcastle United, then next weekend’s exhibition match at home to LOSC. The Premier League season opener, August 22 versus Crystal Palace, will be here before you know it! In midweek, we saw some Everton transfer news that flew a bit under the radar- midfielder Christian Norgaard moved over from Arsenal, on a £7m deal.
Preseason FYIs
Everton FC at Stuttgart
Kickoff: Sat. Aug. 8, 4pm, MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany
Everton FC Team News
The Gunners lost more than half their investment in the 32-year-old Danish international, who signed from Brentford, just last summer, for £15m
Norgaard was surplus to requirements at Arsenal, but we’ll think he’ll go straight into the first team for this weekend’s exhibition match.
Injury wise, winger Dwight McNeil missed out against Hamburg with a lower leg injury. However, the issue is minor and he is supposed to be back soon.
Otherwise no new concerns, as James Garner continues rehabbing, after undergoing surgery to repair a groin injury. He is expected to return to first team training around the same time the season begins, so maybe he could be in line to play again after the September international break.
Everton FC Predicted Starting XI at Stuttgart
Mark Travers; Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite; Mykolenko, Hayden Hackney, Merlin Rohl, Cristian Norgaard; Tyrique George, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall; Thierno Barry
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.