LEON OSMAN is hopeful a United States tour can once again prove the springboard for a successful season at Everton FC.

David Moyes and his players flew across the Atlantic yesterday to prepare for games against Philadelphia Union on Wednesday and Washington’s DC United on Saturday.

It is the sixth time in eight years Everton have travelled to North America, with previous tours having helped the Goodison outfit hit the ground running in the Premier League, most notably in 2004 when they went on to finish fourth.

And with Osman setting his sights on European qualification, the midfielder believes another Stateside sojourn could be the ideal preparation for a top-six challenge.

“Going to America certainly seems to work for us,” said the 30-year-old. “We have shown that in the past and hopefully the same kind of thing can happen for us this year.

“Ultimately it’s about us going over there and getting the work in, playing our football and coming back sharper.

“You know you are going to work hard pre-season, but you’d much rather work hard in America than you would in some other places I could mention!”

Of Everton’s ambitions for the new campaign, Osman added: “We haven’t discussed any targets this season. We’ve only had one pre-season friendly, but as a group of players we’re all determined to do the best we can.

“We have to aim for Europe, there’s no point in us not aiming for it and settling for second best. We have to aim high.”

Osman was on target as Everton strolled to a 4-1 victory in their opening pre-season friendly at npower League One side Bury on Friday.

Magaye Gueye netted twice and Yakubu, playing for the first time since his loan spell at Leicester City last season, also scored as Marouane Fellaini made his return to action following an ankle operation in March.