Everton captain Phil Neville says the winter arrivals of Nikica Jelavic and Stephen Pienaar have given the squad a new lease of life.
Croatian striker Jelavic signed from Rangers on deadline day whilst ex-Toffees star Pienaar has returned on loan from Tottenham with their additions providing a major boost for morale at Goodison Park.
"We now feel we have a challenge, a challenge within, as players need to get into the team.
"That ups the quality in training sessions. It means we can challenge teams when they come [to Goodison] as well.
"I think [at the beginning of the season] we lost the belief that we could really compete, and it's the belief we've always had ever since I came to the club.
"I think we're getting that back now.""The signings made have given the club a whole new feeling," Neville told Radio Merseyside. "The whole place is alive now because of them.
