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Maarten Stekelenburg cannot wait to experience a full house at Goodison Park for the first time as an Everton player.
The former Dutch international signed for the Blues from Fulham earlier this summer and could be in line to make his competitive debut in front of a sell-out crowd against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, a game that kicks off the new Premier League campaign.
Stekelenburg has already been impressed with the crowds that have followed the Toffees to Barnsley, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Dresden in pre-season and is now looking forward to sampling the home roar on Saturday.
“It is nice to start with a home game with the fans behind us,” he told evertontv. “It is a tough first game against Spurs but hopefully we can get a good result.
“Everton fans always travel in big numbers. When we first went to Barnsley, I ran out to do my warm-up and was like, ‘Wow’. Every game we played away it was impressive. I can't wait to see that at home.
“I was at Goodison with Southampton last season and it is a tough place to go. Hopefully with the fans having our backs on Saturday we can take three points.”
By his own happy admission, Stekelenburg has settled in quickly to his new surroundings.
He has seen plenty of action in pre-season, starting against MK Dons, Dynamo Dresden, Manchester United and Espanyol, and hopes he has done enough to get the nod against Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs.
“I have been working hard and just trying to do what the coaches are asking me to do,” he added. “You need that bit of luck as well. But hopefully I can make the starting line-up.
“I have settled in well so far. It has been a tough pre-season and the main thing was to get fit. I think we are ready for the start of the season.
“It’s always new when you come to a different club. You have to get to know the players and the people around the club, but that has gone well.”
