LEIGHTON BAINES believes the successful tour of Australia has underlined the strength of Everton’s squad ahead of the new season.

David Moyes’s side secured a hat-trick of victories Down Under with Saturday’s defeat of Brisbane Roar followed victories over Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart.

Tim Cahill was the only World Cup player to take part, with Steven Pienaar, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu, Tim Howard, Jan Mucha and World Cup finalist John Heitinga due back in training at Finch Farm in the coming days.

And Baines believes the performances without so many key players is an encouraging sign of the talent at Moyes’s disposal.

“It has been a good tour for us and the teams we’ve beaten have been of a decent standard,” said Baines.

“We played some decent stuff and there are still plenty of top players to come back. Once they do, we will look really strong.”

Of the 2-1 win over Brisbane, Baines added: “It was a nice way to finish the tour. Three victories is good, we would have liked to have not conceded a goal on the tour so that is the only downside really. Overall, though, we are pretty pleased.”