Overview
- Everton played a goalless friendly at Bolton’s ToughSheet Community Stadium on Saturday, July 25, using the match to build fitness rather than chase a result.
- Jarrad Branthwaite made his first match appearance in four months and produced a composed 45-minute return that staff and reporters called a clear positive for the club.
- Everton confirmed before kick-off that midfielder James Garner had undergone groin surgery and faces a recovery fight to be available for the start of the campaign.
- Manager David Moyes experimented with a three centre-back system that deployed wing-backs to cover Everton’s right-back shortage and to test defensive flexibility.
- The game was streamed on EvertonTV as part of a wider pre-season programme that will include further friendlies as Everton fine-tune tactics and assess fringe and youth players while Bolton prepare for the Championship.