JERMAINE BECKFORD admits he cannot wait to feel the frenzied passion of a Merseyside derby.

The summer signing from Leeds United is preparing for the new Premier League season with Everton in Australia this week but is already longing for his home debut.

Twenty-six-year-old Beckford has sampled the Goodison Park atmosphere before but is now champing at the bit to be in the Royal Blue shirt – particularly when facing Liverpool.

Refusing to set himself any goalscoring targets for the 2009/10 campaign, Beckford was in buoyant mood despite the gruelling pre-season training regime manager David Moyes was putting the squad through.

Beckford said: “I am looking forward to every single game, all the boys have been saying that the derbies are special. I am looking forward to hopefully playing and sampling the atmosphere because I’ve heard it’s electric.

“It’s (Goodison) amazing. I’ve been there once a couple of years ago for a game and the atmosphere was special. I can’t wait to play there.

“It is a club I feel I can learn a lot from and I hope I will be able to bring something different to the team.

“I’m not setting any real targets at the moment, I’m just looking forward to trying to establish myself here.

“There has only been one session with the ball so far. We’ve done a lot of running but that is what you expect at this time of the pre-season.

“But everybody has been very welcoming and I’ve had a great time in the few days I have had so far and I can’t wait to get started properly.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper John Ruddy has left the club to join forces with Championship side Norwich City.