Hayden Hackney has admitted he is still working towards full match fitness after making his Everton debut during the club's pre-season defeat to Stoke City.
The summer signing from Middlesbrough made his first appearance in royal blue on Tuesday evening, playing the opening 45 minutes before being substituted as planned.
Despite the 1-0 defeat, Hackney was encouraged by his first outing and believes his understanding with his new teammates will continue to improve.
Positive first outing
Hackney arrived at Everton after being named the Championship Player of the Season for 2025/26 and wasted little time making his first appearance for the Toffees.
Speaking after the match, the midfielder said he was delighted to finally get on the pitch after a lengthy break.
"I really enjoyed it," Hackney told Everton TV.
"Obviously, I haven't played in a while, so it was about getting back up to match fitness and I really enjoyed getting back out there."
He also admitted there is still work to do as Everton's new-look squad continues to build chemistry.
"I'm new to the team. We haven't actually played any competitive minutes together. So it was nice to get used to that. I'm sure that will improve over time."
Focus on building fitness
Everton's preparations continue with a pre-season trip to Germany, where they will face Hamburg and Stuttgart before the Premier League campaign begins.
Hackney hopes to increase his playing time in those fixtures as he continues building towards full fitness.
"Obviously, the match fitness is not there yet, but that will come with time. But yeah, the body feels good," he said.
"[I want to] keep building the minutes up. Probably 60 (next) then hopefully a full 90 and then go from there."
Big expectations after Middlesbrough success
Hackney arrives at Goodison Park carrying significant expectations after an outstanding campaign with Middlesbrough.
The midfielder was one of the Championship's standout performers last season and Everton believe he can make the step up to the Premier League.
His gradual integration during pre-season is expected to ensure he is fully prepared for the opening weeks of the new campaign.
What this means
Everton are taking a cautious approach with Hackney's fitness after his summer arrival. The midfielder is already showing encouraging signs and hopes to be ready for a full 90 minutes before the Premier League season gets underway.
Key points
- Hayden Hackney has made his Everton debut.
- The midfielder played 45 minutes against Stoke City.
- Hackney says he is still building match fitness.
- Everton face Hamburg and Stuttgart in pre-season next.
- The former Middlesbrough star wants to play 60 minutes before progressing to a full match.
What's next?
Hackney is expected to feature against Hamburg before increasing his workload in Everton's remaining pre-season fixtures as he prepares for his Premier League debut.
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