I can't wait to see young Everton star in action after unexpected and remarkable recent rise

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Some 52 days after they were last in action – completing the 2024/25 season with a 1-0 win at Champions League-bound Newcastle United on May 25 – Everton return to the pitch against Accrington Stanley tonight.

The Blues start their preparations for the historic 2025/26 campaign – their first at Hill Dickinson Stadium on the Mersey waterfront after relocating from Goodison Park after 133 years at the first purpose-built football ground in England – with a trip to the Wham Stadium to face League Two opposition.

However, with David Moyes still looking to make a raft of further new signings as he rebuilds his squad and Thierno Barry, the only new face so far, not expected to be involved until Everton go to the USA next week for the Premier League Summer Series, just who are our writers most looking forward to seeing in action?

Chris Beesley

Along with the more gentle pursuits of seeing James Garner and Dwight McNeil carefully placing passes against a concrete slab, a game that Blues boss Moyes confirmed was a good, old-fashioned game of “wally,” the most striking image from the squad’s recent training camp in the gaffer’s native Scotland was seeing Beto bark: “Give again.”

Everton’s players were stepping up their intensity with one-on-one duels and having got himself around Vitalii Mykolenko with a turn that produced audible praise from both Moyes and his assistant Alan Irvine, the Guinea-Bissau international was eager to have another go having completed the drill by netting into a tiny goal and making his Ukrainian team-mate smile with a celebratory growl.

A passionate individual who always wears his heart on his sleeve, the 27-year-old certainly looks up for the challenge of what is a new era for everyone in royal blue.

Snapped up for £25.75million from Udinese on August 29, 2023, Beto struggled for regular minutes under Sean Dyche but soon after Moyes came in, he found himself as the returning manager’s only fit senior striker.

By his own admission, Beto almost quit Merseyside in the January transfer window this year, but having been given a fresh start, he is eager to show what he can do.

Everton have just splashed out even more money (£27m) on another big man up front Thierno Barry, who, at 6ft 5in is an inch taller than Beto, but the battle is on to see who can become first choice when it comes to spearheading the attack in the months to come and their incumbent star, whose goals per minutes on the pitch record is decent, appears determined to measure up against his younger colleague who will be fighting to take his place.

Joe Thomas

I'm really keen to see Harrison Armstrong in the coming weeks. It was around 12 months ago when we first saw the teenager in the first team, then as a second half substitute in the friendly defeat at Salford City.

He stood out a few games later in the win at Preston North End and, when the season started, he remained in and around the first team - making his Premier League debut in the final minutes at Tottenham Hotspur.

It was some breakout year for the midfielder - one that was remarkable and unexpected despite there being excitement in his potential.

What I liked most about Armstrong's breakthrough was that, when he was required to drop back into the U18s and U21s, he stood out, showing both a determination to apply himself at all levels and that he had grown beyond those age groups.

His Championship loan at Derby County was impressive and he starts pre-season with an opportunity - there are big gaps in central midfield and, while Everton will bring in players in that position, that could work to his advantage.

Unlike, say, at Bournemouth at the start of 2025 when Sean Dyche used him as a Hail Mary option in his final game in charge, it could provide Armstrong with the cover to have a season in the Premier League in which he can pick up useful minutes without the pressure of being relied upon.

In order to convince David Moyes to keep him with the first team he will need to impress in these opening games and I am hopeful he will get the chance to shine against Accrington Stanley and Blackburn Rovers. If he does, I have every confidence he will stand out.

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