COMPETITION TIME

Sunday 3 July 2005, 10:00
by Scott McLeod @efc_scottmcleod

Marcus Bent is keen to see further competition for places in the Everton squad.

David Moyes has added two new faces to his senior squad already this summer with the signings of Per Kroldrup from Udinese and Simon Davies from Tottenham.

But the manager has made no secret of his desire to make further acquisitions, suggesting there could even be two new faces at the club in the next week.

With pre-season training already underway ahead of the eagerly awaited new season, Bent believes added competition for places will only help the Blues' chances of building on the remarkable success of last season.

He told evertonfc.com: "I am sure over the coming weeks there will be a few more signings.

"As a professional footballer you have to have competition and you need a big squad to ensure you have players in every position capable of coming in and taking over.

"We know we are going to have competition for places and we will have a big squad."

Bent was amongst the senior players who reported back for pre-season training at Bellefield on Friday.

He has worked hard over the summer to maintain his fitness levels but is still expecting a tough time from the coaches in the weeks ahead.

He added: "It is good to be back. When I was a little younger it seemed like you had eight weeks off.

"But now in the modern game you go on a little break and by the time you get back you need to get back into doing a little training to get fit again.

"We can look back on last season and be proud that we achieved something. But now it is time to get down to work to try and achieve something this season.

"It seems like we haven't been away long so I feel relatively fit.

"But I am sure the coaching staff and the gaffer won't see it that way and if I go off last year it will be hard and intense.

"But then we will also be as fit as we were last season."