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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

What Sean Dyche did to Ben Godfrey in training sends blunt Everton reminder

It might be the international break, but that hasn’t stopped Sean Dyche putting his Everton side through their paces at Finch Farm.

Dyche has enjoyed a successful start to life at Goodison Park. He has not only overseen three wins from eight games, but also moved his side out of the relegation zone.

Everton are a long way from being completely out of trouble, but there is a feeling of renewed optimism amongst supporters heading into the final 10 games of the season.

READ MORE: Everton fans suffer again as club hit with another bombshell

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Following his appointment as Frank Lampard’s successor, Dyche promised to make the players 'sweat' and bring back some of the basic principles of what Everton have stood for.

What came next was exactly what all Blues supporters wanted to see. Dyche’s first session saw the return of the beep test.

From footage released by the club, it looked like Ben Godfrey and Ellis Simms were the last two players standing. There were also plenty of Blues stars out of breath.

But before the fitness testing came the bans. Snoods and hats were no longer allowed while players were told they must now wear shin-pads for training.

The change in approach exposed an unexpected problem for Everton's kit staff when it emerged that the club didn't have enough full length socks to kit out the squad. A trip to Sports Direct was reportedly required.

And during his side’s latest training session, defender Godfrey witnessed first hand just how meticulous his boss can be.

Footage released by the club shows Dyche watching his side go through a fitness exercise with physical performance coach Jack Dowling, when something catches the eye of the Blues boss.

After a first look, a further inspection is required, and Dyche appears to be checking whether Godfrey is wearing shin-pads. He is, but only after the 51-year-old conducts his own investigation by checking they are actually on.

It was a simple reminder to his side that he is watching everything that is going on around him. Not even the smallest of details will go unnoticed.

Some called Dyche’s training methods old fashioned when he arrived at the club. They are anything but.

These methods and values might not only play a key role in helping Everton stay up, but they can also help to ensure a brighter future is on the horizon for all connected to the club.

Nothing, it appears, gets past Dyche. And that is just how Everton supporters should want it to be.

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