Luke Garbutt has refuted suggestions that Everton are in crisis after succumbing to their third successive Premier League defeat on Sunday.
Having lost to both Stoke City and Southampton in the past seven days, Roberto Martinez's side travelled to Newcastle United with a point to prove and keep pace in the race for a top-four finish.
However, the Toffees went down 3-2 at St James' Park in a defeat that leaves them 12th in the table heading into 2015 - 12 points adrift of the top four.
"It's too early to talk in terms of a crisis, although you will get talk like that in football. If you have a run of form like we have, you'll get criticised - simple as that," he told reporters.
"But to say it's a crisis is a bit premature. I believe in the squad we have - we've got the quality but we need a win to spark our confidence."
The Merseysiders will look to end their three-game losing streak by beating Hull City at the KC Stadium on New Year's Day.
Shane Callaghan
