Simon Grayson is expecting a tough game at Goodison Park as ‘wounded’ Everton seek to end a run of four straight defeats.
The Toffees are winless in their last six games in all competitions, although it is worth noting that their last three Premier League outings have paired them with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
It’s also been a summer of change at Goodison Park with key player Romelu Lukaku moving to Old Trafford before Ronald Koeman spent over £100m on the likes of Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane, Gylfi Sigurðsson and former Black Cat Jordan Pickford.
And Grayson admits it’ll only be a matter of time before the talented Toffees show their true colours.
“It can be good or bad time to face them,” said the manager. “They will be desperate for a result and any team that is criticised and wounded can be difficult to play against.
“They have some talented players and who knows what team they will put out. I would expect it still to be pretty strong considering the squad they have got.”
He added: “They will be like us, just wanting to win a football match very quickly.”
The Sunderland manager also took time to praise former stopper Jordan Pickford, who worked with Grayson during his spell as Preston North End boss.
“I think Jordan deserves the credit for where he is at this moment in time, and the people that developed his career.
“He got that experience of going from non-league to the league and then to the Championship, then to be fair to the lad he’s grasped that opportunity and done ever so well.
He continued: “He’s learned how to develop and backed himself to play. When I was at Preston I did say I thought he’d be a Premier League regular and England’s number one in the future.
“I keep in touch with him even now, I sent him a text last year to ask for a donation to my prostate cancer justgiving page and within five minutes it was done and dusted.
“All credit to the lad and I hope he goes all the way.”