Ashley Young joined Everton this summer on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract with Aston Villa.
With pre-season in full swing, Ashley Young has had some time to get to grips with life under Sean Dyche at Everton. The veteran defender has opened up about what his role at Goodison Park will be, and how he has coped in training so far.
Young has already experienced Dyche’s infamous ‘Gaffer’s Day’. That day being a brutal fitness drill overseen by Dyche, where no balls are used. Erik Pieters, who played under Dyche at Burnley, has previously explained the process, saying, “you train without balls. They are not allowed. They stay at the hotel and the only thing you see are stopwatches and a big speaker saying ‘go’ and ‘stop’,” as quoted by Lancs Live.
The Everton players have been put through ‘Gaffer’s Day’ in recent weeks, and Young says, “it was tough, it was tough mentally as well, but every single one of the boys who were out there were brilliant…Everyone stuck together, everyone got through it,” as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
Ashley Young’s role at Everton
At 38-years-old, Young is unlikely to be a regular starter for the Toffees. The wisdom of signing the 39-cap former England international can certainly be questioned, but his experience will likely prove useful in the dressing room.
In the player’s own words, he expects to have a “fluid” role for the Merseyside club. Young stated, “you have got to play in different positions and be ready. When you get to my age you know you [have to be] ready to play in all of the different roles the manager requires.”