Everton striker Romelu Lukaku insists he's a better player for this season's battling form.

Lukaku, 21, struggled in the early stages of the campaign and has admitted he felt the pressure of the record £28m transfer fee Everton paid Chelsea for him last summer.

"Maybe it was the season that I needed," said the former Chelsea striker, who has scored nine goals since the turn of the year to reach 16 in total.

"To feel how it is to be the main man and stuff like that.

"I think I still have a respectable amount of goals - the same as last season now - so there is improvement but I want to get better and make the team better and help them.

"It's been a very good learning experience, but I don't want to learn at this time, I want to win.

"The season has taught me a lot, especially mentally. I'm a very strong person but you know people expect more and more from you.

"When you look at the chances I had at the start you have a bad feeling, then when you start scoring it goes way. When you stop again it comes back.

"Personally I don't let my head go down, I just keep working hard.

"If I don't score I try to give an assist, if I do score I try to give an assist and score another.

"I'm improving and going the right way."