Bernard says Everton’s players must believe in their own quality to engineer an upturn in form and fulfil their "huge responsibility" to supporters by climbing the Premier League table.

Everton were in rude health following victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last month but will be aiming to reignite their campaign against West Ham United on Saturday after a winless four-game league run.

Bernard was on target when Everton produced a consummate away display to win at the Hammers' London Stadium late last season.

That triumph in the capital arrived during a period when Marco Silva's side delivered a succession of terrific performances to win six and draw three of 11 matches.

They sustained that momentum in the initial phase of this campaign and moved into a top-six spot after beating Wolves.

And Bernard insists his team boasts the talent and confidence to rediscover the form which had them competing at the business end of the table so recently.

Speaking to this weekend’s edition of Everton’s matchday programme, Bernard said: “We need to believe in ourselves to help us get out of this situation.

“We have the quality, we are a good team with excellent players and know we should be doing better.

“We have chosen to be here and know the nature of the profession.

“We know how much pressure there is – and without a doubt there is a lot.

“It is not just us as players, or us as a team.

“We are representing an institution, an entity, which is Everton.

“We are representing millions of fans, so the responsibility is huge. We think about that.”

Bernard’s own progress this term was checked by the bout of illness which ruled him out of Manchester City’s visit to Goodison Park three weeks ago.

He watched Everton’s game at Burnley seven days later from the bench and is itching to be involved against West Ham.

The 27-year-old, among Silva’s first wave of recruits last summer, played 36 matches in his debut Everton campaign.

His magisterial touch and skill consistently lit up Everton’s football and Bernard’s understanding with full-back Lucas Digne kindled memories of the formidable Leighton Baines-Steven Pienaar left-sided alliance which thrilled Goodison for the best part of a decade.

The Brazilian, though, expects more from himself in terms of end product. He was directly involved in six goals last term – scoring two – but was quickly off the mark this season when he hit the winner against Watford in Everton’s opening home game.

Manager Silva, too, has tasked the player with improving his scoring ratio this time round.

“We believe in the quality, knowledge and professionalism of Marco Silva,” said Bernard.

“My immediate objective is for Everton to get out of the position we are in.

“But my main focus is to help the team by scoring goals, to help Everton achieve things.

“I work hard on the strong elements of my game in training but I also work hard and train aspects where there is room for improvement.

“If you are not putting in that hard work, other players will move ahead of you and go past you for selection.

“I am looking at improving my game in the penalty area; my finishing and assists and my desire to score goals.”

A feature interview with Bernard is the centrepiece of Everton's matchday programme for Saturday's meeting with West Ham.

Marco Silva writes exclusively for Evertonians, the Club's youngest player Jose Baxter shares his story in a searingly honest interview and Morgan Schneiderlin and Mason Holgate answer questions on a broad spectrum of subjects in another edition filled with quality content.

The Everton matchday programme, priced at £3.50, will be on sale around Goodison Park and at various city centre outlets.

It will also be available from the Everton One and Everton Two megastores. Click here to order online.