Everton in Dubai: All you need to know

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  • The Toffees are in Dubai.

    The Everton first-team squad and coaching staff arrived in Dubai on Monday evening and manager Ronald Koeman held his team’s first training session on Tuesday morning.

    Here, we’ve put together all the information you need to know surrounding the Blues’ visit to the UAE.

    WHY ARE EVERTON IN DUBAI?

    With no cup commitments left this season and only the Premier League to focus on, the Merseysiders have a considerable gap in their fixture list. The Blues are next in action against Sunderland on February 25th and have chosen, for the second year running, to take a warm-weather training break in Dubai.

    WHERE ARE THE BLUES TRAINING?

    The Toffees are training at Nad Al Sheba, Meydan, known as the best training facility in the Emirate. It is owned by the ruling family in Dubai and the training complex is private, with a number of top European clubs having trained there in the past.

    WHERE ARE THE BLUES STAYING?

    Everton are staying at The Meydan Hotel, a stone’s throw away from Nad Al Sheba. Teams often cycle from the hotel to the training venue.

    HOW LONG ARE THE BLUES IN DUBAI?

    It’s a five-day training camp for Koeman’s men and the squad will depart on Saturday.

    FRIENDLY

    During the training stint in the Emirate, Everton will play a friendly to maintain their match sharpness – although the opposition and venue has yet to be confirmed.

    ROMELU LUKAKU AND THE SQUAD

    Everton confirmed their leading marksman didn’t travel to the Emirate because of a lingering calf problem.

    Lukaku, 23, will undergo treatment at the club’s Finch Farm training base instead. The forward, along with long-term injured star Yannick Bolasie, are the only senior members of Koeman’s squad who are not in Dubai.

    Youngsters Matthew Pennington, Jonjoe Kenny and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were all part of the travelling party.

    ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR

    Fans’ favourite midfield star Muhamed Besic is with the team and is closing in on a comeback after being sidelined since August 2016 with a cruciate knee ligament injury. The Bosnian’s return gives Koeman yet another option in a packed central midfield area, which includes Morgan Schneiderlin, Ross Barkley, Gareth Barry, Idrissa Gueye and young star Tom Davies.

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