Demarai Gray believes Everton’s squad has a ‘different feeling’ to last season.
Frank Lampard’s side recorded their first win of the Premier League campaign against West Ham on Sunday and extended an unbeaten run to five matches.
It also marked the Blues’ first top-flight victory in almost four months, when they narrowly avoided relegation in a memorable 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
But Gray already sees a shift in the Goodison Park dressing room’s mentality, aided by arrivals including Idrissa Gueye, James Tarkowski and Conor Coady.
He said: “I think a lot of times last season, we probably conceded a goal and our heads would drop.
“The fans might have been affected by it as well and collectively were just in that kind of rut and it was difficult to get out of.
“We showed our character right at the end of the season by staying up and surviving.
“But I think this season there’s a completely different feeling in the squad and everyone can see we are like a different squad.
“Having a fresh start off the back of last season, I think we realised it’s a big opportunity for us.
“We’ve signed some players that have been massive for the team and made us a lot stronger as well.
“The standard in training’s gone up as well, and that’s where everything starts. I think collectively we’re on the right path.”