With the Premier League season less than a week away, Frank Lampard has a host of important questions to answer.
Injuries, tactics and players' ability to deal with pressure and responsibility will all be on his mind as work continues at Finch Farm and Goodison Park ahead of the new campaign. There is no doubt director of football Kevin Thelwell will be busy exploring opportunities to strengthen Lampard's squad but the new season will begin long before the transfer window ends.
With that being the case, after a rollercoaster pre-season in which Everton lost to Arsenal and Minnesota United before defeating Blackpool and Dynamo Kyiv, these are a few of the issues likely to be on Lampard's mind.
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Find a captain should Seamus Coleman be unavailable
Club captain Seamus Coleman has not played a minute of pre-season as he recovers from surgery and in his absence Lampard will be called upon to make a decision about who wears the armband against Chelsea. Jordan Pickford's leadership credentials emerged during last season's relegation fight. He was given the honour for the first time in his career when Everton faced Burnley at Turf Moor and crucial saves against Manchester United, Leicester City and Chelsea - against whom he made what was named 'save of the season' - highlighted his stature within the squad. James Tarkowski is a major contender for the role and showcased the power of his character when sticking up for Stanley Mills in the friendly against Arsenal. Pickford was named captain in three of the pre-season friendlies, though on one occasion that was the result of a selection by holders of Everton 'fan tokens'. Vitalii Mykolenko led the team out in the other friendly, the 'match for peace' against Dynamo Kyiv.
Assess the injury situation
The knocks have started to build up for Everton and a number of players missed out against Kyiv as a result of injury. Coleman remained sidelined while he recovers from surgery while Allan played but started on the bench as he continues to recover from his own injury. Jordan Pickford's back up, Asmir Begovic, was unavailable again suggesting Billy Crellin - the only keeper other than Pickford to play during pre-season - could start the season as deputy. Yerry Mina, who absence was felt so keenly last season, had a slight issue but was expected to be back in training this week. Tom Davies, who scored against Blackpool, and Andre Gomes, who did not play a single minute of the pre-season friendlies - were also both ruled out. On a positive note, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Demarai Gray, both left out against Blackpool as a "precaution", were able to return to action. Lampard's Everton tenure has been blighted by injuries and he will not want to start the new campaign facing the same issues that plagued his team selection during the survival bid.
Settle on a formation
Lampard opted to play five at the back as the need for points became the priority last season. It was a system that worked so well - including against Saturday's opponents Chelsea, who Everton beat 1-0 to kickstart the run to survival. Even last season, Lampard spoke of the desire to play more progressive football - an ambition he has repeated over the summer. Whether he has the players available to do that is in question though. The only friendly in which he deviated from a back five was the 4-0 defeat to Minnesota United in which the Loons exposed Everton down the flanks. Lampard was also of the opinion his side could have pressed better against Kyiv. In that match injuries forced him into an experimental formation that saw Abdoulaye Doucoure and Alex Iwobi partner each other in the centre of midfield. While he looks for further recruits, Lampard may have to continue his pragmatism and opt for the formation that proved so effective at the end of the last campaign.
Who will play together at the back
While this is an issue that goes hand-in-hand with decisions over formation and the injury situation, Lampard has a number of options to choose from on this front. New signing Tarkowski is likely to be involved but questions remain over who to play alongside him. Everton looked at their most solid in pre-season when he was joined by Mina and Ben Godfrey against Blackpool. Mina's latest injury is thought to be minor but could pave the way for Michael Keane, who played with Tarkowski at Burnley. Mason Holgate is also in contention.
The penalty taker
Richarlison took command over penalties in the closing stages of last season, retaining his composure to score twice from the spot against Burnley and then in the home game against Brentford. In his absence the responsibility may fall to Dominic Calvert-Lewin - whose last effort from 12 yards was his miss against Brighton.
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