Everton vs. Austria Vienna: Preseason Friendly Preview, Players to Watch

Austria Vienna vs. Everton (Sunday, July 14, 12.00 p.m. ET)

Roberto Martinez takes charge of Everton for the first time this weekend as his new side begin their preseason campaign.

Before a couple of local fixtures and a trip to America, the Toffees travel to Austria, as was frequently the case during David Moyes' regime.

There, the players will be put through some intensive fitness work at high altitude in an effort to shape up for the new season.

Martinez will then select a side to face Austria Vienna at the end of the week, although the match will predominately be in an effort to raise fitness levels, with the majority of the squad likely to feature.

Background on Austria Vienna

Austria Vienna wrapped up their 24th Austrian Bundesliga title last season, their first for seven years. They won 25 of their 36 games and scored an impressive haul of 84 goals, conceding just 31 on their way to the trophy.

In championship terms, Austria Vienna—or, the Violets—are the second most successful team in Austria, behind fierce rivals Rapid Vienna, although they have collected far more domestic cups than any other Austrian side.

They are coached by a former Croatian international in Nenad Bjelica, while Thomas Parits acts as director of football, having taken charge of the first team during the 1980s.

Austria Vienna's season starts the week after their clash with Everton, as they face FC Admira Wacker Modling and, as a result, their fitness should be several levels higher than the Toffees.

Players to Watch

Everton's new striker, Arouna Kone, won't link up with his new teammates until the end of the month, as with all those involved in international fixtures at the end of the season.

Therefore, Martinez will take a youthful party with him to Austria, mixed in with a few seasoned veterans. Several fringe players from last season, such as Shane Duffy, Bryan Oviedo and Apostolos Vellios will be striving to make an early impression on their new manager, but all Evertonian eyes will be on new signings Antolin Alcaraz and Joel Robles, should they feature.

Austria Vienna will include several full internationals including their captain, Manuel Ortlechner, but the Violets' main weapon is 24-year-old Philipp Hosiner. The striker was top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga last season with 32 goals in 36 games.

His form saw him feature twice for Austria in 2013 during World Cup qualifiers, where he registered a brace against the Faroe Islands. He has also been linked with a summer move to both England and Germany, and he told newspaper Osterreich (via Sky Sports) it would be impossible to turn down a move to the latter. But, for the moment, he remains in Austria.

Prediction

Regardless of the friendly nature of the contest, it will be interesting to note the shape of Martinez's first selection.

Fans will be curious to see if he switches away from Everton's tried and tested 4-4-1-1 formation, introduces his favoured three at the back at any point, or makes any immediate changes to his new side's style.

The result is a relatively minor factor for the Toffees. Austria Vienna will be closer to peak fitness and will field a strong side that will have benefited from recent friendlies. All of which may well lead to a win for the Violets against an under-cooked Everton.

Follow @Matt_Cheetham