Victor Anichebe believes Everton´s testing pre-season programme will stand them in good stead as they look to make a flying start to the Premier League season.
The Blues are halfway through their preparations for the 2011/12 campaign and face Carling Cup holders Birmingham City on Saturday ahead of games against Werder Bremen and Villareal.
David Moyes takes his side to St Andrew´s and the game will be live on evertontv, as is the case for all of the Blues´ pre-season games.
Anichebe opened the scoring in Everton´s 3-1 over DC United in Washington on Saturday and believes these games will set the Blues up for their first Premier League fixture against Spurs on August 13.
“The teams we´ve played in America were tough opposition and Bury gave us a bit of a fright as well,” Anichebe told evertontv.
“I was talking to some of my friends who were winning games 8-0 or 9-0 and I was thinking in my head ´is there really point in those games?´
“It´s good to play against tougher opposition to prepare you for the season, if you´re winning 9-1 it´s not really going to be that hard.
“But playing against tough opposition is only going to benefit the team.”
Catch the Blues’ remaining pre-season fixtures on the Club’s online video service, evertontv. All the fixtures are being broadcast on a pay-per-view basis with each game costing just £4.99. Alternatively, supporters can take advantage of a pre-season 2011 package and order all three remaining games for just £10. evertontv is the only place to watch Moyes’ men take on Birmingham City on Saturday, 30 July (KO 3pm) and Werder Bremen on Tuesday, 2 August (KO 6.30pm BST).