On the top floor of Liverpool’s Cunard Building overlooking the River Mersey, the next tentative step on Everton’s journey to the European elite could be taken on Friday.

Liverpool’s City Council cabinet is expected to confirm its support for the club’s plans for a £300 million stadium, a mile along the waterfront at Bramley Moore Dock.

As with last week’s agreement for Everton to acquire this land, there will be cautious optimism rather than cork popping at Goodison Park.

The scars of previous blueprints – notably at King’s Dock, Walton Hall Park and the rather less celebrated aborted move to Kirkby – linger enough to ensure the current mantra is focused on delivery above promise.

Yet beneath the caution, there is far greater substance to the current mood of aspiration at Everton.