DUO FACE HUGE TEST; 'It's time Rodwell and Coleman pushed on' RODWELL AND COLEMAN FACE BIG SEASON.

Byline: GREG O'KEEFFE

JACK RODWELL and Seamus Coleman are facing a "huge" season when they must cement regular first team places if they are to progress at Everton, says Alan Stubbs.

The midfield pair both played 90 minutes as Stubb's reserve side lost 2-1 to Tranmere Rovers in the Liverpool Senior Cup final last night, and neither managed to shine at Prenton Park.

Rodwell, 21, is still building up his match fitness after a hamstring problem ruined his chances in the second half of last season, so alongside Republic of Ireland international Coleman, 23, will have been glad to have come through a lively encounter with Ronnie Moore's side unscathed.

But Stubbs admitted both have plenty to do in order to force their way into contention for a place in David Moyes' first-team XI when the Barclays Premier League season begins against Manchester United on August 20.

He said: "It's a huge season for them both.

"They've got to force their way into the first team and make a headache for the manager not to pick them. "It's the kind of headache he wants every week. "They're capable of doing it but will have to push for it. "They're in that bracket now where they're not really young players now. They need to get into the thick of it. It won't be easy but nothing is handed to you in this game."

While Stubbs was less than impressed with his second-string's display, he admitted to being pleased at least with Steven Pienaar's permanent arrival, which was sealed on Tuesday. "The manager is relieved it's done," he said. "It's the biggest signing we've made in a long time. "If the manager had one target this summer that was it. "He's maybe hoping for another one or two if possible, but we've got a strong squad with a lot of quality and if season was to kick of this weekend he'd be happy.

"He'll be looming to increase the tempo in fitness and sharpness now, and hope the attacking and defending tempo picks up too." David Moyes' side have not been in action since a 1-1 draw with Motherwell 10 days ago after, and will play a behind closed doors friendly against Bulgarian top flight champions Ludogorets today. But even though they missed games after their participation in the Java Cup, in Indonesia was cancelled, Stubbs does not believe it has affected their preparation for next ter m. He said: "Not going to the Java cup didn't disrupt our tempo. "It was a late call and not a major thing - if anything it could be a help giving them an extra few days on the grass than in the air."

CAPTION(S):

TIME TO SHINE: Seamus Coleman (left) and Jack Rodwell