Source: Team_Talk
Toffees are in good shape - Baines
Defender Leighton Baines feels Everton's preparations for the upcoming Premier League season are well on track.[LNB] The Merseysiders continued their impressive and unbeaten pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win over Everton - their Chilean namesakes - in a friendly at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.[LNB]The Toffees now have just one more run-out, against German side Wolfsburg on Saturday, before their Premier League opener against Blackburn on August 14.[LNB]Everton made a poor start last year, losing 6-1 to Arsenal on day one and then collecting just 15 points in 14 games, but Baines feels more positive this time around.[LNB]The England international said: "The games and the training have gone well so far.[LNB]"The important thing now is that we try to keep everyone fit and get ready to start the season as well as we have done in pre-season.[LNB]"As the games come along you get a bit sharper and everyone has looked sharp in all the games.[LNB]"Everyone wants to go into the first game on a high note so it is important we end this pre-season well.[LNB]"We all know last season that we had a poor result in the first game, one of the worst we could have imagined.[LNB]"It is important, psychologically, to start well - but it is one game and there is plenty of time to recover."[LNB]Baines has been impressed with the performances of new signing Jermaine Beckford this summer.[LNB]The 26-year-old striker is stepping up to the top flight after excelling at League One level with Leeds.[LNB]Beckford followed up his double against Preston last month with his first goal at Goodison as he headed the opener against Chile's Everton.[LNB]Baines added: "It looks like he knows how to score. He is one of those people that have a knack for finishing.[LNB]"He looked sharp and he also offers a threat behind. He looks like he is going to be a good addition to the squad."[LNB]Everton finished last season strongly as they lost just two of their final 24 games.[LNB]It was form that might have seen them qualify for Europe had they not struggled so much early on when injuries proved a major factor. They ultimately had to settle for eighth.[LNB]With most of the big names now fit - Marouane Fellaini played for the first time since February last night - Baines expects things to be different this year.[LNB]The 25-year-old said: "We haven't been used to having so many players over the last couple of seasons - they've been littered with injuries and problems.[LNB]"It'll be nice to have everyone fit. We've got some real strength in depth now and some nice problems for the manager."[LNB]Diniyar Bilyaletdinov grabbed the other goal last night as Everton comfortably saw off the South American team founded and named after them in 1909.
