Sean Dyche's first week in charge at Everton fizzed with intensity.
Shortly after being officially announced as the new Blues boss he took his first training session at Finch Farm and carried out an anonymous Q&A for the players to highlight issues they believed needed to be dealt with. All but two first team stars responded to the process, which has already inspired a feedback session.
Dyche, who banned snoods and hats from being worn during sessions as he called for players to train how they play, remained at the Halewood complex until just after 9.30pm on Tuesday, his second official day and transfer deadline day. No signings arrived but he was still able to inspire a struggling squad to a vital win over Premier League leaders Arsenal after cramming what he felt was a five week pre-season into just five days.
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In the aftermath of that crucial win he told his players they would be back at work on Monday despite the longer break until the Merseyside derby. And true to his word, he had them out on the grass at Finch Farm once the weekend was over. With the trip to Anfield set to be a Monday night fixture, this week does allow him and his coaching staff a bit more time to get to know the club and his players. As a result, these are some of the issues he might want to take a look at during his second week as Everton manager.
Assessing Dominic Calvert-Lewin's workload
Dominic Calvert-Lewin started on Saturday despite concerns over a hamstring issue going into the match. Dyche later confirmed his coaching team was aware of this in advance of the match but had been confident he would be able to perform for the first hour - which he did, being substituted for Neal Maupay shortly after James Tarkowski's match-winning goal. It was a good performance from the striker, who was inches from opening the scoring but could not get enough on an Amadou Onana cross across the face of goal and later headed wide from a Seamus Coleman delivery.
Calvert-Lewin's substitution was a precaution and Dyche said he would undergo a scan just to get a better idea of the situation. With Calvert-Lewin so crucial to Everton's season, one of the big challenges for the new coaching team will be to work out how to manage his workload to give him the best chance of staying fit and finding form over the coming months.
Working out the wider injury issues
James Garner should be closing in on a return from a back injury that ruled him out of the club's World Cup break trip to Australia as far back as November. The midfielder has had few opportunities to showcase his ability to Everton fans following his arrival from Manchester United at the end of the summer transfer window. Andros Townsend is also nearing a return from his horrific anterior cruciate ligament injury, sustained in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace last March.
Both could be welcome additions to a squad that was not added to over the January transfer window, once they are available. Nathan Patterson's injury issues were not as serious but knee ligament damage ruled him out for an estimated six weeks after he picked up the injury in the defeat to Brighton at the beginning of January. He should also be nearing a comeback from his third difficult injury in 12 months since joining from Rangers.
How does Demarai Gray fit in to the plan?
Demarai Gray did not get onto the pitch against Arsenal. His omission from the side - one of two changes from Frank Lampard's final starting XI - came as a surprise with the winger having been one of Everton's best players during a difficult period following the World Cup break. After the game, Dyche revealed Gray was managing a slight groin/hip injury. If he is fully fit in time for the Merseyside derby his availability might provide a positive headache for Dyche after Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil were so impressive against Arsenal.
Contract negotiations - and decisions to make
Everton entered the year at an advanced stage in contract talks with Anthony Gordon, Jordan Pickford and Alex Iwobi. Gordon has since left for Newcastle United but no new deals have been announced for Pickford or Iwobi. While director of football Kevin Thelwell will likely lead the talks, they will now come onto Dyche's radar. Also falling into his remit will be the players whose contracts are expiring this summer. While they may not need immediate focus, they will require decisions to be reached soon should Dyche wish to protect them from advances from other clubs.
They include Abdoulaye Doucoure, who started against Arsenal and played well. He had fallen out of favour under Lampard but the club has an option to extend his contract by a year and he may well get a new opportunity to make a claim for that under Dyche. Of those who were in Dyche's first squad, Tom Davies, Yerry Mina, Coleman and Asmir Begovic also have expiring contracts. A new deal is also yet to be confirmed with talented youngster Isaac Price.
How involved will Under-21s be in the first team?
Lampard was a big supporter of promoting youth. By the turn of the year he said he considered Tom Cannon, Stanley Mills and Price, three of the club's most promising youngsters, as first team squad members. Cannon has since joined Preston on loan and it will be interesting to see how others are involved. Ellis Simms was on the bench against Arsenal but other academy starlets were not. Photos from some of Dyche's first training sessions do show Mills and young centre back Reece Welch having been among those involved.
