WHEN David Moyes envisaged Everton FC marking the opening weekend with a hard-earned point in the capital, this probably wasn’t what he had in mind.

But the Goodison manager will have been content as his side concluded their extended pre-season preparations with a draw against Bohemians in Dublin.

Chief reason for encouragement was the sight of Mikel Arteta back in action. The Spaniard’s absence with a foot injury suffered on the United States tour had been a growing cause for concern among supporters.

Arteta, though, emerged unscathed from more than an hour of graft last night to put himself in contention for Saturday’s belated Premier League opener at home to Queens Park Rangers.

The postponement of the scheduled clash at Tottenham Hotspur may prove something of a blessing for Everton.

Not only has it given players such as Arteta more time to work on their fitness, it has removed the toughest fixture from Everton’s scheduled opening month.

Now Moyes’s side open the campaign with home games against QPR, Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic along with a trip to Blackburn Rovers, surely an ideal scenario to build confidence ahead of the sterner tests that await in late September and October.

In a worthwhile workout last night in less than ideal conditions at a soggy Dalymount Park, Jermaine Beckford gave Moyes’s side a first-half the lead before Anto Flood equalised shortly after the hour.

Bohemians agreed to the hastily-arranged friendly despite being partway through their campaign in the Airtricity League.