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Leighton Baines is already back at Finch Farm to prepare for the new season under Marco Silva.

The 33-year-old is keeping up his fitness levels ahead of the squad's official return on July 2.

Baines was linked with a move to La Galaxy in Major League Soccer early in the summer but remains keen to stay at Goodison.

(Image: Everton FC via Getty Images)

And Silva confirmed to the ECHO this month that Baines is part of his plans this season but he still wants to bolster Everton's options at left-back.

Baines is making sure he is ready for the start of pre-season next month but ticking over at the club's Halewood training complex.

And earlier today, Baines met 17 children whose lives have been impacted by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The youngsters from Belarus took part in a training session with Academy recruitment officer Ray Redmond and got to meet Baines after his own session.

It was the 14th consecutive year that children from the region have been invited over and the Blues’ Academy Recruitment Director, Martin Waldron said: “A lot of the kids live in a village with no name, with toilets in the back garden or a shed, or they haven’t got one.

“There are no cars, it’s horse and cart, and it makes a big difference to them coming here. It’s said that a month here in England, with the fresh air, eating good food, puts a year on their life, which is unbelievable.



“And it’s great having them here at Everton. It’s good to see them enjoying themselves.”