Lookman feels like a true Toffee after Dubai trip

Everton were one of many Premier League clubs to take in a warm-weather training camp following an early FA Cup exit and Ademola Lookman claims the trip was invaluable for him especially.

Having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Cup third round in early January, Everton were without a match last weekend – and Ronald Koeman took his troops to Dubai for five days.

Far from a jolly, the aim of the training camp was to bring the squad closer together, something young forward Lookman believes was accomplished.

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And the former Charlton Athletic star, who moved to Goodison Park from the Valley in January, says he now knows his Toffees team-mates far better ahead of a crucial run to the end of the season.

“I got to know them and they got to know me,” explained Lookman. “I’ve only just joined in January and I feel like I’m even more part of the team now, which is good.

“It takes some adapting but I’ve been doing that on the training pitch every single day. I’ve adapted well and with time I’ll adapt even more and become better as a player.

“Dubai was very beneficial [for the squad]. We have quite a few fixtures coming up and to be able to perform in those to the highest level, you have to be 100 per cent every day.

“I believe that the Dubai training camp gave us that little bit extra that we needed.”