Goals key for Everton on Rooney's return

Europa League
Third qualifying round first leg
ITV4, 8.05pm Thursday

Everton have been getting plenty of praise for their transfer business this summer but it is time to deliver as they lock horns with Slovakian side Ruzomberok at the start of their Europa League campaign.

Excitement has been building among Toffees supporters and a sell-out Goodison Park crowd will witness the contest which marks Wayne Rooney's competitive return to Everton colours.

Fellow new signings Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Davy Klaasen, Sandro Ramirez and Cuco Martina also hope to be involved as Everton embark on a brave new era but Ross Barkley is absent after undergoing groin surgery.

The biggest challenge for Everton is to find a source of goals to lesson the blow of Romelu Lukaku's transfer to Manchester United.

Lukaku netted 25 of Everton's 62 league goals last season while none of his teammates got into double figures.

Sandro looks the most likely to fill the gap but he may not be considered ready for a start, having played only 45 minutes in pre-season.

Everton have spread the goals around in pre-season and England Under-20 attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell has stood out - scoring excellent goals in the victories over Gor Mahia (2-1) and FC Twente (3-0).

Rooney has also netted twice - against Gor Mahia and in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Genk - but still looks a short-priced favourite to score the first goal.

The important thing from Ronald Koeman's point of view is that his team are scoring freely and should put plenty of daylight between themselves and Ruzomberok before the return match in Slovakia next Thursday.

Ruzomberok finished third last season - their highest position since winning the title in 2005-6 - but were 21 points adrift of champions MSK Zilina.

They have never got past the third qualifying round of the Champions League or Europa League although they sprang a surprise in their second qualifying round tie against Norwegians SK Brann earlier this month - winning 2-1 on aggregate.

However, it is hard to see how they are going to hurt Everton.

Attacking midfielder Jakub Mares - their top scorer last season with 14 league goals - has completed a summer transfer to domestic rivals Slovan Bratislava and key midfielder Michal Fasko has signed for Swiss outfit Grasshoppers.

The upshot is that Ruzomberok are probably weaker than they were last season and are heading for a heavy defeat on Merseyside.

Recommendation
Everton to win 3-0
1pt 6-1 Paddy Power

Team news
Everton
Ross Barkley (groin) and Ramiro Funes Mori (knee) are unavailable.

Ruzomberok
Bosnian striker Nermin Haskic was rested for the weekend league defeat at Zlate Moravce but should return to the side.

Key stat
Everton have won eight of their last nine home matches.