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The last time Ronald Koeman took a side into the play-off round of the Europa League a player known as 'Big Dunc' knocked them out.

But while the Everton version will be sat alongside him this time, the memory of FC Midtjylland’s Morten Rasmussen sending Southampton packing still lingers.

Rasmussen was given the nickname earlier in his career and in August 2015, with the first leg having finished level, his goal dumped the Saints out of Europe in the play-off round.

On Friday afternoon, Koeman will learn whether his new-look Everton side will be rewarded with a trick or treat at the same stage of the competition after grinding out hard fought wins in both legs against Ruzomberok.

As he said, it promises to only get harder from here on in but such is his desire to book a place in the group stage – acknowledging how important it is for him and for everyone connected with the club – he has already strongly hinted that he will field the strongest side possible .

“It has always been important for me,” he said last night.

“I did the maximum when I was manager at Southampton, we did not reach the group stage but that wasn’t because we did not play with our strongest team.

“I like to be in Europe, it’s good experience for the players, it’s good for the club and it’s good for the fans.

“It is still one round to go and it will be difficult.

“There will be teams out of the Champions League in the next round.

“It’s not easy to reach the group stage but we will do everything to get in. That’s what we will try to do.”

But the problem facing Koeman and his squad is that the two play-off round ties are played on August 17 and August 24 – slap, bang in the middle of a tough run of fixtures.

Everton's schedule will now look a little something like this:

Aug 12 – Stoke (h)

Aug 17 – Europa League play-off first leg

Aug 21 – Manchester City (a)

August 24 – Europa League play-off second leg

Aug 26 – Chelsea (a)

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

Everton's squad has grown stronger and deeper but Koeman says they must add to it further and though “very happy” to have negotiated the third qualifying round tie, he admitted there were key elements his side must improve on – namely keeping the ball and creating more chances.

There's confidence that Gylfi Sigurdsson could be an Everton player by the weekend; but he is lacking match fitness and will take time to get up to speed so could not be seen as the answer for the early part of that run, at least.

Koeman reiterated the need to sign a striker and though Sigurdsson's arrival will allow the club to pour their efforts into signing one, there currently appears little breakthrough in the chase for Olivier Giroud.

So while the Everton manager's intent may be to field the strongest team he can in the next round, it may still not be as strong as he would like.

He just has to hope there's not another Big Dunc lurking in today's draw.