Bernard's "quality and work-rate" has been praised by Marco Silva, with the Blues boss convinced the winger can deliver more decisive contributions for Everton.
The 25-year-old has featured in 26 of the Toffees’ 30 Premier League matches this season, having signed on a free transfer last summer.
The Brazilian followed up a tireless performance in the Blues’ Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park with another eye-catching display against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk player’s invention, dribbling ability and work-ethic impressed in the north east, and he played a key role in the Blues’ opening goal.
Collecting possession 30 yards from goal, Bernard played a delightful reverse pass to Lucas Digne, taking out two defenders and creating space for the Frenchman to clip in a pinpoint cross which Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed in.
Indeed, Bernard combined well with Digne throughout, with the pair providing a persistent threat on the left flank.
The Brazil international’s accurate and intelligent use of the ball was further underlined by the fact he had the best passing accuracy (87.5 per cent) of any player who played more than 45 minutes during the game.
Manager Silva saluted Bernard’s ability and application and has now challenged him to add more goals to his game.
Bernard has contributed four Premier League assists this season and netted his first Everton goal in a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Lincoln City in January.
“He is doing very well,” Silva said. “Apart from his quality, he is a player who works really hard to help his teammates every time.
“And after he has the quality in attack we need as a team.
“He has the capacity to decide a match with the last pass and assist. And not just assisting because he has this capacity to assist, but to score.
“But I want him to score also and be decisive. It is something he wants also.
“He has this capacity and it is something we are working on together.”
Bernard was instrumental in a vibrant Everton performance during the first hour of Saturday’s match.
The Blues took a deserved two-goal lead at Newcastle – Richarlison’s 11th top-flight strike of the season following Calvert-Lewin’s well-worked opener.
Newcastle turned the game around late on, though, and boss Silva says his team must maintain their intensity throughout the 90 minutes.
“Of course, it is a big frustration because I know what our potential is,” he said.
“So many of our players gave a good first half, and in the first 15 minutes [of the second half] we had everything under control, with the chance we had to score the third goal.
“I know if we do what we have planned with our strategy, like we did in the first half, we can play that level [for the whole match].”
