FROM Vienna to Accrington . . . Everton’s pre-season programme is nothing if not varied!

And tonight at the Crown Ground the Blues will lock horns with former Everton striker James Beattie, now manager of the League Two club. Everton’s full allocation of away tickets has sold out for the pre-season friendly and chief executive Robert Elstone said: “Vienna was a great experience and we had great support out there. I take my hat off to the travelling fans who were terrific and they always are.

“Now we’re looking forward to Accrington, with a much-loved Everton old boy in charge.

“I was chatting to the chairman about James and he has incredibly fond memories of his time at Everton.

“He was actually down at Everton’s Academy with Accrington while the guys were in Austria. We have a terrific relationship and James is a good guy.

“But pre-season is about getting a blend of the right opposition in the right conditions.

“Everybody’s incredibly excited about the US trip, against some great opposition whom will test us out, so it’s all shaping up nicely to hit the ground running when we face Norwich on the 17th.”