Everton boss David Moyes believes they can compete for the top four this season.

Everton paid for a ­sluggish start last season but Moyes believes his men can emulate Newcastle by putting pressure on the top four after a start which has seen them pick up six points from three games.

He said: "We can be as good as we were last year and if the new boys bed in quickly, we can be better.

"We saw what Newcastle achieved last season and we're capable of making the same kind of impact.

"Our squad is still light on numbers, but we are in a far better state now than we were this time last year.

"Twelve months ago we weren't in good shape. But we are relatively pleased this time."