Who is new Everton goalie Andy Lonergan?

Everton’s top two goalies for the new season are set in stone with Jordan Pickford the starter and veteran Asmir Begovic backing him up after a strong showing during the preseason tour of the United States.

Joao Virginia was expected to be the third keeper behind them in the matchday squads, but is close to sealing a loan transfer to Sporting CP in Portugal after undergoing his medical yesterday. Next man up would have been youngster Harry Tyrer but the teenager suffered a quadriceps injury recently which could see him miss a few weeks at least.

Faced with a goalkeeper shortage to make up that third man, manager Rafa Benitez announced that Everton had signed Andy Lonergan for the season. This should ensure that even after Tyrer is fit again that he would not be shuttling back and forth between David Unsworth’s Under-23 side and the first team.

The 37-year-old keeper started his career with Preston North End, playing over 200 games for the club that former Everton manager David Moyes once coached. Since then the journeyman keeper has made multiple stops at a variety of clubs both in the Premier League and the Championship.

It was at one of his last stops that he was able to find success by proxy, with Lonergan playing for Liverpool during their Premier League title winning season as well as getting winner’s medals in the UEFA Super Cup and World Club Cup with the Reds. He has also featured for Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers and Fulham among many other clubs.

Lonergan was signed in time to be in the Everton squad for Leeds United should he be unexpectedly needed on Saturday.