PHILADELPHIA'S PPL Park is not the most luxurious place in American football by any stretch of the imagination.

Located South of the main city, in a modest town called Chester, the ground holds just under 19,000, and is a world away from the modern, state-of-the-art equivalents Everton are used to.

Real Madrid, who are in town this weekend, will not be playing here. Cristiano Ronaldo and his side will instead be accomodated at the 60,000-plus Lincoln Financial Field in the city centre. They are expected to sell it out.

Despite this metaphorical slap, Blues boss David Moyes says his side are enjoying their time stateside, and predicts the week-long tour - they travel to Washington on Thursday, ahead of Saturday's clash with DC United - will be hugely beneficial once the new Premier League campaign begins, away to Tottenham on August 13.

"We've been to the US before and we have really enjoyed it," says Moyes ahead of this evening's clash with MLS Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union.

"Being here gives us freedom to train, and it gives the players freedom to enjoy their time and use it wisely. The facilities we have used have been fantastic, and we are all looking forward to it.

"We have played in several US cities before, but never Philadelphia, so it should be a good experience."

It has not been the easiest of weeks for Moyes' players, with temperatures soaring and humidity prohibitive. Their manager, however, has good reason to put his side through a rigorous pre-season schedule, having seen their ambitions stunted by slow starts in each of the past two campaigns.

He believes that playing sides in the midst of a highly-competitive league season will provide a good test of his team's capabilities, and says he is impressed by the way Major League Soccer is developing.

"We want to get good fitness and play a good standard of game," adds Moyes. "Every time we have come to America we have found the games really tough.

"The MLS sides are in the middle of their season and are all very capable sides, so it is a good test for us, and one which will stand us in good stead later on.

"The MLS is growing fast. I enjoy the concept and the way they work it. You see teams such as Seattle and Toronto, and they get fantastic support. It is great to see.

"And I think it is growing at a good rate, not so fast that they can't keep control of it, but still very fast."

Local fans, naturally, will flock to PPL Park tonight hoping for a glimpse of Tim Howard, the US national team's first-choice goalkeeper.

Moyes believes the 32-year-old's presence, along with many of his team-mates, is vital in helping the Blues develop a worldwide fanbase, and says he believes local supporters have responded well to Everton - a club with a good tradition of American players.

"Tim is our biggest ambassador over here, of course," he says. "He is the number one for the national team, and one of their most important players. He is a big player for us too, and helps us get a decent fanbase in this country.

"The Americans I have used have all been great for me. The first player I had was Brian McBride, whom I brought to Preston and then Everton. He was fantastic.

"And I have to say Landon Donovan, who I had on loan a couple of seasons back, was superb too.

"I hope the local fans enjoy it. They are getting more and more chance to see top European sides, and for us it is nice to be part of that. They can look at the likes of Tim, Phil Neville who has 50 caps for England, Mikel Arteta who should have had 50 caps for Spain! Those players are top, top players, and it is nice for fans across the world to come and watch them."

More importantly for Moyes and his side, tonight's clash provides a chance for Everton to further enhance their fitness ahead of the big trip to White Hart Lane in less than four weeks' time. If the eyes of the biggest sporting nation in the world are on them, that is just an added bonus.