Everton need more time to show marked improvement, says Ronald Koeman

• We need next summer to make changes, says Goodison manager
• Everton have had one win in nine, with Manchester United up next

Ronald Koeman has said Everton’s miserable run has opened his eyes to the changes required at Goodison Park but insisted the club’s academy prospects are not yet the solution.

Everton host Manchester United on Sunday having won only once in nine matches and failed to respond to their manager’s demands for a reaction to poor displays against Chelsea and Swansea City. Koeman’s requests for more pressing, greater penetration and more aggressive starts have gone ignored in recent weeks, to leave the manager admitting: “We need at least this winter and we need next summer to make changes in this club.”

But, despite a dramatic downturn since the start of the season, Koeman believes he will learn more about the squad during this period than had their encouraging early results continued. “I still have the belief we will be successful at Everton,” he said. “Maybe we need a little more time, maybe we need to make more changes in the team, maybe we need it for next season. We know it is a new project and everybody knows that takes time. We had a good start, it is a difficult time now but that is football.”

He added: “It is always difficult when there is a lack of confidence and a lack of belief but it can be good for me to see the reaction of the team in a difficult time. It is better to see that. Of course you like to have a win every weekend because everyone is happy but sometimes, to get your eyes really open, maybe this time is the best to understand what we need to change.”

Change is unlikely to come from within, it appears, with Everton’s academy prospects not ready to step into an ageing team who lacked mobility at Southampton last Sunday. Koeman, who has been linked with January moves for the United duo Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin, plus the 19-year-old Charlton Athletic forward Ademola Lookman, said: “We analyse our young players. It is about Tom Davies, it is about Kieran Dowell, Dominic Calvert-Lewin the striker, Jonjoe Kenny the right full-back.

“The under-23 competition cannot be compared to the Premier League. They train a lot of times with the first team and if there is a moment that they show they are on the level of other players in their position then I will give them the chance.

“It is also a physicality question about young players. Every day we have the contact with David Unsworth [the under-23s coach] and they need time. It is easy to say: ‘He played fantastic, he needs to play in the first team.’ No, they don’t understand the level of the Premier League and they need time. We are not playing in Holland – if so, then yes, they are ready. But ready for the Premier League? If I bring a young player in it is not for one game and then I will show the confidence in that young player. Still they are not ready.”