PHIL NEVILLE believes Everton are ready to shake off the effects of any lingering New Year hangover and begin the sprint for European qualification.
David Moyes’s side return to Premier League action this weekend when they make the long trip to Norwich City on Saturday.
Everton stand six points adrift of a Champions League berth and two points and one place behind fifth-placed Arsenal, who occupy one guaranteed Europa League qualification spot.
Sixth place may ultimately prove sufficient depending on who contests the FA Cup final, with the Goodison outfit themselves still harbouring hopes of reaching Wembley.
Neville, though, is eyeing an improvement in league form with Everton having won only one of five top-flight matches since the festive period.
“We need to start winning games,” admitted the club skipper. “Now is the time that we will start hitting form.
“If you look at all the teams in the Premier League, I don’t think anyone is flowing or playing the type of stylish football they did before Christmas.
“It happens every year. January and February are those months where you have to slug it out. You come out the Christmas period where you have played so many games in a short space of time, and there’s almost a lull where the pitches are bad and the weather is freezing cold and players are maybe fatigued.
“But it’s now when the nights start to get lighter and the weather turns and you have a bit of blue sky and sunshine in training and you see teams hitting form again.”
