Everton striker Steven Naismith admits targeting a top-10 finish is not what was expected when the season began. Their early-season problems means a top-10 finish is now the height of their ambitions when a year ago they were dreaming of qualifying for the Champions League.

"Last season we were fighting for fourth quite late in the season and we would ideally like to be doing that again but we've had the European campaign and that has been a learning curve," he told Press Association Sport at the club's annual open training event for fans at Goodison Park.

"To get the club to the next level you have to be able to maintain league and European form and we've not handled that as best we could this season but in the coming years hopefully we will be better for it.

"We've also had injuries to key players which have not helped as well so there are few things which have contributed but we will not use any of those as an excuse.

"Overall we have done well the last three weeks to get good results and it has put us in a much healthier position in the league and we can build on that in the coming weeks.

"The first goal has to be to get into the top half of the league and from there we will push on."