Everton confirm coaching change as Sean Dyche reunited with former Burnley man

Billy Mercer played a key role in the development of the goalkeepers at Burnley

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Billy Mercer has joined Everton as goalkeeping coach on a short-term basis.

The Goodison Park club has confirmed that the Liverpool-born former shot-stopper, who previously worked with manager Sean Dyche at Burnley, will cover for senior goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, who is set to undergo a knee operation.

The club has also confirmed that Mercer will be present at the Blues' pre-season camp in Lake Geneva this week to work with Jordan Pickford, Joao Virginia, Andy Lonergan and Billy Crellin.

From Tom Heaton to Nick Pope, Mercer, who first joined the Turf Moor club under Brian Laws, was the man tasked with improving Burnley's goalkeeper contingent during Dyche’s reign at the Clarets.

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Speaking back in October 2019, Pope said of Mercer: "When you have three or four goalies to manage, it is not always easy; he had five or six at one point last season!

"But he has been around a while now, and he has great experience and is someone we all work from.

"He sets the work day-in and day-out, and for me, he is easy to speak to on match days and after match days when you go through the performance from the weekend. He is vital to the set-up."

Speaking around the same time as the now Newcastle United man, Dyche said: "Billy's done a lot of good work with the keepers, and they've paid him back with growing performance levels.

"I've been very happy with his work with the keepers, and it deserves a mention."