Romelu Lukaku is delighted with the performance of the Everton backline in recent games.

Everton have been ravaged by injury problems at the back so far this season and the Toffees did not have three first choice defenders in Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman and John Stones available during their encounter against West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.

Despite the understrength defence, Everton managed to claim a fine 3-2 victory and striker Lukaku, who netted a double, has now gone on to hail the defenders for their fine performance against the Baggies.

Lukaku told the Liverpool Echo: "The spirit in this team is good, especially now if you look at the back four. Ramiro has come in, Brendan Galloway has been playing for a few weeks and that is not the defence we play with each week.

"Bainesy (Leighton Baines) is to come back, Seamus (Coleman) is to come back and up front we have Kevin Mirallas to come back in a few weeks as well, so the competition is going to be tough in a few weeks, but that is what we want, we want to improve and finish as high as we possible can."