Everton boss Ronald Koeman is hopeful that the club’s medicine of confidence will kick in when they host Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend.

The Toffees have made a below-par start to their top-flight campaign, and this has resulted in them dropping into the relegation zone in 18th place. The Toffees have played the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the span of just five games, and they could consider themselves unlucky to have received such a tough fixture list at the start of the season.

Everton secured a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Sunderland in the League Cup on Wednesday night after Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a brace and Koeman has challenged his side to hit a similar run of form in the league starting from the game against the Cherries. He said: “Now we need to see we’re still strong. I’m confident in what I saw yesterday – that’s always the best medicine, to get the confidence you need for good performances. Good performances normally mean winning games.”

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho had recently cited that Everton should be challenging for a top-four position at least after their summer spending and Koeman has admitted that he remains a person with a lot of ambition with the Merseyside club.

Club graduate Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged an impressive double against the Black Cats last night, and Koeman admits that the Englishman has a good future ahead, should he progress in the right way. Meanwhile, the Dutchman also confirmed that OumarNiasse could be in contention for the weekend after he scored on his Everton comeback in the League Cup.

The Senegal international notched five goals during a loan spell with Hull City in the second half of last season, and it appears that Koeman is prepared to offer him the opportunity to feature in his first-team plans.