Sam Allardyce believes that taking his squad to Dubai for warm-weather training has “helped bring relationships closer” and ensured that “our total focus now is on how many points we can get at Watford”.
The Everton manager has hailed “the quality of the training sessions” over the five days that the team has worked at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, with the weather and the environment contributing positively to the Blues’ preparations for next weekend’s game at Vicarage Road.
When Allardyce arrived at Everton on the eve of his appointment the team stood two points above the relegation zone before David Unsworth oversaw a superb 4-0 win over West Ham in his final game in caretaker charge.