The intensity of Everton’s pre-season preparation, and the earlier schedule of games, may well be partly intended to avoid another slow start to their domestic campaign.

“For a number of years now we've started poorly and we’re hoping this change does us good,” says Hibbert.

“The Premier League is hard and we can’t afford to get off slowly again.”

Everton cannot afford a season without a credible trophy challenge according to the Huyton-born defender, who is relishing the chance to try and return to Wembley. We have been up there a number of years and we need to push on again this season,” he says.

“The main job is to get back into Europe because we deserve it.

“In a way it probably does give us a breather not playing in midweek European games this season but none of us want that.

“We are desperate to be back in Europe.

“We want to win a cup so there’ll be plenty of focus on that too.”

Hibbert’s main personal ambition is to be part of an Everton team which enters the history books as bringing back a trophy to Goodison Park.

For a player who graduated through the club’s youth system, it would be the pinnacle of his career.

“We’re long overdue when it comes to silverware,” he says.

“As a local lad who’s been at the club all my career it’d be amazing to be playing when we won a cup.”