Players completing fitness drills on sand is among the methods being introduced by Everton’s fitness and medical teams to sustain variety and stimulation in preparation for the forthcoming 2020/21 campaign.

Everton reported back to USM Finch Farm on Sunday for a uniquely condensed pre-season only three weeks after completing an extended 2019/20 term.

That reduced rest period will enable Carlo Ancelotti’s squad to quickly follow a recognisable training programme.

On that note, Head of Physical Conditioning Francesco Mauri admits being confined to the Club’s headquarters represents a boon, stripping away external demands on the players.

Italian Mauri, who joined Everton with manager Ancelotti back in December, was one of the main voices asking for a sandpit area at Finch Farm after utilising similar facilities at previous clubs Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Napoli – with the Spanish team's 2018 Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Luka Modric one high-profile beneficiary.

“We always try to have variety, to change the stimulus, not just for physical reasons but for technical and tactical reasons,” Mauri told evertonfc.com.

“We change a lot.

“As physical staff, we asked the Club for the possibility to work on sand.

“It is a methodology we like a lot.

“When you sprint or change direction on the sand, you have to produce much more strength.

“It is not something you can use for all the players – but for some players it is very good to use this kind of stimulus.

“You can do a lot of different exercises; use it for injury prevention, it is good for ankles, for balance and proprioception exercises.

“And for strength and metabolic drills.

“You have to analyse the history of the players and choose the ones who can benefit from these kinds of exercises.

“At Madrid, for example, we had Luka Modric… he had big leg muscles and a lot of strength.

“To find specific exercises on the pitch for him was very difficult.

“On the sand, he could develop a lot of strength.

“We could work with him to create lactic acid and increase his anaerobic threshold (the point when the body’s aerobic system is unable to keep up with the body’s energy demand).

"We have used this method everywhere. In Naples they already had the sand.

"In other clubs we asked to build it, it is not a big project, just to create a space full of sand."

Mauri concedes three weeks does not constitute a “proper break” but maintains nonetheless this uncharted territory – a result of the conclusion of 2019/20 being pushed back two months because of the coronavirus pandemic – presents an engaging challenge for fitness staff.

In tandem with Ancelotti, it was determined Everton would return with three days of relatively light training – the weekend's opening session comprised a warm-up, technical exercises, possession drills and small-sided games – then settle into the rhythm of a familiar working week.

Ancelotti and his staff typically oversee the week’s most intense practice on a Tuesday, with Monday reserved for light training and an active recovery session undertaken on Wednesday.

The week’s closing two days are given over to tactical training.

Players would ordinarily be sent on their summer holiday with prescriptive training programmes but followed more general guidance during this off-season, encouraged to remain mobile and active and adhere to individual injury-prevention routines.

“It is very strange [to have minimal preparation time] but it is a good challenge to try to understand and have new ideas,” said Mauri, who will have the new sand-filled training area at his disposal from this week.

"We are happy and excited to study and do our best to give the players the possibility to be at maximum fitness.

“We had a meeting of all the staff [to plan the pre-season programme] and my opinion – and the opinion of the manager – was we don’t need anything too different from normal training.

“Normally, you would start slowly, with more aerobic drills, because players are coming from four-to-six weeks holiday.

“After three weeks, the idea is for the first three days to be not so hard but then move to something similar to a normal week during the season.

“It is better to stay at Finch Farm, we have good pitches and facilities and you are free to go back home to your family in the evening.

"It can be good to stay together for one week [at a pre-season camp]… but here the majority of the players know each other very well, so I think it is a good thing to stay and train here."

 Mauri confirmed Mason Holgate and Fabian Delph have both resumed full training after recovering from the respective problems which sidelined the two Englishmen towards the end of last term.

Yerry Mina, meanwhile, who was hurt in Everton’s penultimate away game at Wolverhampton Wanderers in July, is training individually but expected to rejoin Ancelotti’s First-Team squad shortly.

There is no Leighton Baines, of course, following the defender’s retirement last month.

And Mauri, who formerly praised Baines and captain Seamus Coleman for leading by example on Everton’s training ground, is keenly watching to see who will step into the absent man’s shoes.

“We need a little bit of time to see if someone will take Leighton’s place,” continued Mauri.

“Also, last year we had players who showed strong personality.

“Mason Holgate is a good example.

“He is a young guy but he likes to speak and push his teammates.

“But you never know, each season is different, you can find new leaders, different synergy in the group. We are waiting for that.

“Honestly, I am curious. Every team needs leaders.

“And when one of them decides to stop his career, another one will take his place, for sure.”