Ross Barkley "pleased" with consolation strike in Arsenal defeat

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has insisted that he will take plenty of positives away from his Asia Trophy final display.

The England international scored a fine individual consolation strike in the Toffees' 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in Singapore.

Despite the loss, which came on the back of a goalless draw against Stoke City earlier in the week, Barkley insists that confidence is growing in the camp.

"I'm pretty pleased with the strike, It was a great effort with my weaker foot," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Star. "When it went in, I felt more confident in myself.

"That's going to be an early boost for me going into the next pre-season games and the start of the season. I felt I played pretty well when I came on for the second half, but we made a few errors in getting our rustiness out of the way.

"A few of the lads had some good chances. We're getting rid of the cobwebs at the start of pre-season and we'll get our sharpness back over the next few games."

Everton take on Hearts in seven days' time in their next pre-season outing.