Ross Barkley: 'I need to be more consistent'

Ross Barkley reacts to a miss during the Premier League game between Watford and Everton on April 9, 2016
© Getty Images
Everton midfielder Ross Barkley reveals that manager Ronald Koeman has asked for "15-20%" more from him this season.

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has admitted that he needs to improve both his attacking and defensive games.

Barkley burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old in 2011 and quickly drew comparisons with Wayne Rooney due to his playing style at such a young age.

However, the England international, now 22, admits that he can no longer be classed as potential and revealed that manager Ronald Koeman had asked for more from him.

"All of the lads have had a meeting with the gaffer and he's said to me that he expects another 15-20% from me to get to the next level, which I'm aiming to get to," he told reporters.

"I've got to add more goals, I've got to add more assists but as well as defensively, I have got to improve that. In the first few games of the season I have. I'm always focused on improving and I know I'm at an age now where I'm not a kid.

"I can't be classed as potential anymore, I know I've got to show what I can do. I've showed it in glimpses throughout the years and, obviously, I want a more consistent performance."

Barkley, who was one of only two England players not to play a single minute at Euro 2016, has already scored twice in three games for the Toffees this season.

Joe Hart of Manchester City is seen on the bench prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane on September 26, 2015
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City33009369
2Chelsea33007259
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd33006159
4Everton32104227
5Hull City32014226
6Middlesbrough31203215
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs31203215
8Arsenal31116514
9Leicester CityLeicester31113304
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom31112204
11Liverpool311156-14
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham310235-23
13Burnley310224-23
14Swansea CitySwansea310224-23
15Southampton302124-22
16Sunderland301235-21
17Crystal Palace301213-21
18Watford301236-31
19Bournemouth301225-31
20Stoke CityStoke301226-41