EVERTON boss Sean Dyche has challenged his team to improve from their last outing but believes he has been handed a fitness boost to face Saints.

The Toffees required a 94th-minute Beto equaliser to make it five matches unbeaten with a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham last time out.

Midfield creator Dwight McNeil was forced off with an injury in the 86th minute, having scored three goals and created a further three this season.

But Dyche is hopeful Dwight McNeil can recover in time to face winless Southampton while fitness doubt Abdoulaye Doucoure could also feature. 

“Dwight’s got a chance,” said said. “We’re hopeful. He’s done a bit of work with the physio team (on Thursday), so we’re hopeful about him.

Dwight McNeil (right) and Jarrad Branthwaite celebrate a Premier League victory with Everton (Image: PA)

“Douc as well had a bit of a situation, but he’s been out on the grass, so we’ll see how that reacts (in training on Friday).”

Armando Broja, Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner are long-term absentees and will miss Saturday's potential six-point clash at St Mary's.

Despite losing their first four matches this campaign, Everton believe they have enough to beat the drop in their final season at Goodison Park.

They have picked up nine points and are already five points clear of the relegation zone - but Dyche was not impressed with their last outing.

“We’ve got to perform better than we did in the last game," said the former Burnley boss. "But we’ve equally got to show the same mentality.

"The grit and determination to go down there and play well but, also, have that strong jaw aligned with getting points, getting results and winning games.

“We did that with a lot of, I felt, good control against Ipswich. We’ve got to find that level again down at Southampton as a starting point – or a restart point.

“I did mention it after the Fulham game, that relentless attitude towards winning. I think it can be built over time, and we’ve tried to do that.

“We’ve shown really good signs of it over varying periods, and then, quite obviously, times where we haven’t earlier on in the season.

"We went into the last game with a real strong mentality. We didn’t perform well, but in the second half, that relentlessness was on show, I thought.”