Baines: Feeling upbeat

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Baines buoyed by new arrivals

Everton defender Leighton Baines believes that the arrival of several new faces in the transfer window have boosted morale at the club.

So often in recent times, the Toffees have been a club which sells players and lacks the resources to bring in quality replacements.

However, in the January transfer window Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was the only notable departure, while Landon Donovan and Steve Pienaar arrived on loan and Darron Gibson and Nikica Jelavic joined on permanent deals.

Baines admits that the new arrivals are welcome additions to the squad.

“I think [January’s transfer dealings] lifted everyone associated with the club, it certainly did from what we see within the club, it gave everyone a boost,” he told evertontv.

“It was massive, in particular, what that 24 hours did for us with the two new lads coming in (on deadline day) and the win over Manchester City.

“We needed it and it does lift people. It is hard to articulate exactly why that is at times but to get the new bodies in really helped.

“It was a productive period for the club and we certainly feel as though we are on the up again.”

Everton welcome Chelsea to Goodison Park on Saturday, and while they have a good record over the Blues in recent times, their home form this season has been poor.

In 12 matches on home soil, the Merseysiders have secured just 15 points and Baines is determined to rectify this below-par run.

“Our home form has not been good enough and we knew that,” added the 27-year-old.

“Things have not been great this season so it was nice to win that one (against Manchester City) and it is important we keep the momentum going.

“We want to win all our home games and we know we have to work hard and pick our form up.

“Hopefully that will be the case as we do feel as if we are on an upward curve now.”