Ghana international Christian Atsu has conceded his debut Premier League season has been “very difficult” but optimistic he will get better with time.

The winger is on loan at Everton from Chelsea and has not had it easy at Goodison Park with just three starts.

“I am very happy with the club. This is my first season in the Premier League so things are very difficult and I am hoping as time goes on it will get better and it will become much easier,” the 22-year-old told the BBC.

“I have to do more in games but in football these things happen. I am not frustrated, I know you will have bad and good moments. Sometimes it happens for a full season and then the next season you can be better - I'm working hard.”

Atsu, who had a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem before joining The Toffees, said he is unperturbed by his situation at Everton.

“I am not worried at this stage that I am not playing. For me my dream was to play in England so there is nothing to worry about. As a player I am working hard to play each and every game,” Atsu noted.

“It is a great honour to play in the same team with players like Eto'o and (Romelu) Lukaku and those great guys at Everton. Training with them gives me a lot of confidence, they always encourage me in training, especially Eto'o,” he added.

“He always tells me you have to keep working and that he went through these kind of situations to achieve his aim of becoming one of the best players in the world and has been helpful so far. I take a lot of inspiration from that.”