STEVE ROUND believes Everton’s improving record against sides in the Premier League’s top four shows the strides they are making.

The Blues finished the season having secured wins over Manchester United and Manchester City while remaining unbeaten against Arsenal.

Everton also took four points from Tottenham Hotspur – the side that finished directly above them in the table.

Round says gone are the days when the Goodison Park side would need to produce heroic defensive displays just to be in with a chance of picking up a point against such teams.

The 42-year-old, who was assistant manager to David Moyes for five seasons, believes Everton have grown into a side that the big hitters in England will not relish facing.

"I think the team's confidence and ability to play at that level has shown through in those results," said Round.

"It's a very good record and it does show the direction that the club is going in, that the team is going in.

"I think over the last two to three years that belief has steadily come through at Everton.

"It's not necessarily a case of defending for your lives, hanging in there and nicking the odd result by fortune and great defending, we're actually going in there and taking the game to the opposition and playing as well as the opposition are playing against us. “

Round’s future as part of the backroom staff at Goodison remains unclear as Everton continue the search for their new manager.

But the former England head coach says the Blues will start the new campaign in August brimming with confidence having taken points from the top sides in the division last season.

"We feel a lot more confident now and when we go on to the pitch against those teams, I think the players feel they're more on a level,” Round added.

"It's great for the team moving forward into next season that they know they can play at that level."