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Marco Silva has spent around 10 days at Finch Farm since he was confirmed as the new manager of Everton at the end of May.

The 40-year-old has since flown back to Portugal to spend time with his family before the beginning of pre-season training in July yet word is that it's turned into a working holiday.

But for those behind the scenes, at the training complex which still buzzes with activity and change despite the absence of for another two weeks, this is no surprise.

Silva made an impression when he faced the media a few days after he was announced as Sam Allardyce's replacement yet away from the spotlight the people who have worked with the new manager have been even more encouraged by what they see and hear.

Two members of Silva's backroom staff – assistant boss Joao Pedro and new goalkeeping coach Hugo Olivera – have started work at Finch Farm in the analysts' room along the corridor from Marcel Brands' office in the plush, new first-team block which was completed last year.

The director of football has been operating at a relentless pace since the start of June and his diary continues to be fully booked with meetings with staff, agents and scouts.

And, in his spells in Halewood, with Silva too.

The Portuguese will soon be in place permanently as fitness tests are planned for the beginning of next month ahead of an expected training camp in Austria a week later and the start of the pre-season campaign in earnest, which has seen friendlies with Bury and Blackburn Rovers added to it today.

But Silva's mind has continued to work overtime on systems, formations and – most importantly – the reshaping of the squad.

A left-back and a midfielder are at the top of his wish-list, a defender is also sought, and an addition to the forward line is also expected to be targeted.

But, of course, few need reminding of the necessity to reduce the 38-man squad he has inherited which contains players from the Moyes, Martinez, Koeman and Allardyce eras.

Those who have dealt with Silva so far, speak of his focus and determination to make this work and, crucially, that he already understands the demands of the supporters.

The sense is that it's a fan-base increasingly encouraged and excited by the Silva-Brands axis and buoyed by the manager's talk of 4-3-3 and high-pressing, attacking football.

It's the relief from the pain of the ideals that Allardyce used to promote.

Yet, as Silva only knows too well, the proof is in the pudding and though there is growing optimism and hope around his appointment, he has to extinguish the doubts in the back of supporters' minds.

Can he shake off his reputation as a manager who struggles to settle?

Is a return of just 13 wins in 42 Premier League managers with two clubs the requisite experience to take on this challenge?

Why did Watford win just one of 11 under his watch before he was sacked in January?

Will he and Brands find the right players this summer after a club record splurge that saw mega money wasted?

Silva knows he needs to provide answers to these questions and more but ask anyone Everton and, so far, the new manager is making all the right noises.