Everton left-back Leighton Baines is remaining optimistic about the team's season, despite a run of disappointing results.

Expectations were high after the Merseyside outfit splashed more than £100m on new signings in a bid to break into the top six of the Premier League.

However, Ronald Koeman's side have picked up just two wins in their seven top-flight fixtures, leaving the club 16th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.

The Toffees will aim to get back on track with a visit to Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend, and Baines has no concerns about how the season will pan out.

"There are always times in a season when you have a sticky patch," Baines told the club's official website. "We had one last year - we started well but then we could not win for a while.

"But I think the season overall was still viewed as a good season. And there is still so much football to play, there is no reason why this cannot be a good season.

"We are a good side, we have a good manager. All of the players will have been through this type of thing many times before in different periods of their careers and under different managers. We know the only way out of it is to keep working hard and I am sure it will turn in the very near future."

Everton have scored just four league goals this season.