Everton midfielder James Garner was speaking after the 1-0 pre-season friendly win at Stoke City

James Garner believes the late win over Stoke City was evidence of an improving mentality that can help ensure Everton have a better campaign this season.

The Blues left it late to claim a 1-0 victory in Staffordshire on Saturday afternoon, with Amadou Onana scoring deep into stoppage time at the bet365 Stadium. Onana pounced from close range in the 96th minute after James Tarkowski had headed the ball back across goal.

And Garner, while acknowledging that it is only pre-season, believes the way the side battled until the end was evidence of an improving mentality that matches the support they receive from the stands.

“We went to the very end and scored in the 94th or 95th minute,” he told evertontv after the game. “It’s only pre-season, but it shows the mentality that we’re fighting until the end. The fans were right behind the goal and right behind us the whole game.

“Hopefully it is going to be a much better season as a team and for myself. If I have a good season, then I am going to help the team, and we need to do better than last season.

“From what I have seen this week, we look sharp, and everyone is ready. I can’t wait.

The game was Everton’s fourth pre-season friendly, but Garner’s first outing of the summer after he returned to training later than his team-mates after helping England to European Under-21 Championship glory.

The Blues have one final friendly remaining, against Sporting CP at Goodison Park on Saturday, and Garner is looking forward to being back on home turf for the first time since the win over Bournemouth on the final day of last season

He said: “It was nice to be back in a blue shirt and to get 45 minutes under my belt. I had two or three weeks off, but it was nice to be back in a blue shirt and in front of the fans.

“It helps to have such a good summer and not have much of a break. I feel ready, and it’s kept me going. I feel ready coming into the new season, and that 45 minutes definitely helped.

“I can’t wait for next week now back at Goodison. Hopefully, there will be a good turnout there, and we get a result. Ultimately, we’re looking forward to the first game of the season; we need to prepare right and make sure we are ready to go.”