Morgan Feeney insists belief is strong within the Everton Under-23s squad as the young Blues aim to take a huge step towards the Premier League 2 title with victory at Manchester City on Sunday (1pm).

A win for David Unsworth’s in-form team would see them move six points clear of second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion with just two matches left to play. The Toffees' goal difference is also six goals better than the south coast outfit's.

After the City clash, Everton face title rivals Brighton at Goodison Park on Monday 15 April before bringing the curtain down on their league campaign at West Ham United on 29 April.

The young Blues are unbeaten in their past nine matches in all competitions and last week booked a spot in the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup at home to Blackburn Rovers with a 2-1 win over Sunderland.

After Bassala Sambou put Everton ahead from the spot, the Black Cats struck a late equaliser. With the game seemingly destined for extra-time, Anthony Gordon’s superb free-kick three minutes from time ensured the young Blues’ progress.

Skipper Feeney revealed his confidence never wavered that his side would find a breakthrough – and says this is reflective of the team spirit and togetherness in the squad.

“Even if we do have a setback during a match, we feel we will come back,” the 20-year-old centre-back told evertonfc.com. 

"We’re a tight-knit group. Sunderland scored with about nine minutes left but I just didn’t see that match going to extra time. We’ve always got that belief to go on and win. It’s a good characteristic to have.

“It kept up our good run and we’re feeling confident ahead of the City game.

“We’re enjoying the journey we are on this season. Every game we play in, we are just thinking about winning.

“We’re not thinking, ‘A certain result means this in the table’. We’re just thinking, ‘Let’s beat City, let’s beat Brighton and let’s beat West Ham’. Then nothing can go wrong and we’ll be champions.”

Feeney has superbly marshalled an Everton backline that has conceded just eight goals in 19 Premier League 2 matches this season.

Moreover, the young Blues are on a run of five consecutive clean sheets in the league.

The Bootle-born defender says the Toffees will have to be on their mettle to extend this record against a talented City outfit.

“Man City always pose something different,” Feeney explained. “They play a unique style, they can have five players up front at times with the midfielders pushed on.

“We know exactly what to expect. It’s going to be a big game for us to try to keep them out, because they are a very attacking team.

“But we have a great record at the back and it is something we are proud of.

"It’s our job, as defenders, to keep the back door shut.

“If we do that then the lads going forward know, if we make a tackle or recover possession, we can release them and free them to have shots and score.

“We work very well as a team."