Michael Keane makes blunt claim over Everton fitness and reveals major Sean Dyche change

Everton defender Michael Keane has been speaking about his side's pre-season training schedule

Michael Keane believes Everton’s players will be the fittest they have ever been at the club when they start their season a week on Saturday against Fulham.

Keane and the rest of his team-mates have been put through what has been described by Finch Farm insiders as a "gruelling" pre-season schedule. During the club’s recent trip to Evian, Dyche and his coaching staff put Everton’s players through up to three sessions a day.

The Blues have also played friendly matches against FC Stade Nyonnais, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City and AC Monza. Dyche’s side are set to conclude their pre-season fixture schedule against Sporting CP at Goodison Park this weekend.

In addition to training and playing, Keane and his team-mates also took part in 'Gaffer's Day', which is a training session put on by Dyche and his coaching staff that consists of a large amount of running without playing football.

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"It has been about fitness, sharpness, and being mentally and physically prepared for the season ahead," Keane revealed when asked for an insight into pre-season.

"Since I have been at the club, we haven’t been as fit as what we are going to be in the next few weeks after we finish this pre-season. Hopefully that stands us in good stead."

Keane also said: "I’ve enjoyed being back and working hard. I think the manager made it clear at the end of last year that we would be working really hard in pre-season, and that has been the case.

"Everybody has relished it, and everyone has come back fit, and you can tell we are getting sharper every day and stronger every day."

One player who has impressed in pre-season is forward Lewis Dobbin, who scored in the 2-2 draw with Monza at Goodison on Tuesday afternoon. The forward spent last season on loan at Derby County, and Keane believes the 20-year-old is reaping the benefits of the time he spent at Pride Park.

He said: "I think he has done really well in pre-season, and he’s looking fit and sharp. He has got bits of quality and is only going to get better as well.

"He is a young lad who obviously had some good experience last season out on loan, and that will have done him good."