July

Ghanaian international midfielder Alex Nyarko reports back to Bellefield on July 3 with the rest of the first team squad for pre-season training.

His return ends a 21-month exile from Merseyside after being confronted by an angry Everton supporter on the pitch at Arsenal in April 2001.

As a result of the incident, the midfielder threatened to quit football for good and vowed immediately never to play for Everton again.

Ten days later, the squad depart for a pre-season training camp to Austria, minus Nyarko, and play two games - defeating Bad Goisern 7-0 and SC Schwan Schwanenstadt 4-1.

David Moyes splits the first team in two on the 22 July - with mixed results. Campbell and Co win 1-0 at Rochdale, but Rooney and the rest are defeated 0-2 at Crewe.

A last minute strike from former Celtic star Alan Stubbs gives Everton a dramatic 3-2 friendly win over Rangers, but it comes at a cost.

Wayne Rooney is stretchered off after just 36 minutes and scans later reveal that he will be out for a month after damaging ankle ligaments.