Ross Barkley is confident that Everton can now kick on in the Barclays Premier League following a 3-1 victory over struggling QPR.

Barkley put the Toffees on their way in the 33rd minute when he netted his first goal of the season in spectacular fashion and Kevin Mirallas made it two before half-time, with Steven Naismith adding a third eight minutes after the break.

Everton sat back and allowed QPR to come at them, but Bobby Zamora’s tap-in 10 minutes from time was too little, too late.

The home side are now in the top half and Barkley told Sky Sports 1: “We’ve got the three points today and that’s going to give us a bit of confidence so we’re going to take every game as it comes and hopefully put things right on the pitch.”

Barkley played a deeper position than his customary roaming role in place of the injured Gareth Barry and the England international said he is happy to play anywhere manager Roberto Martinez needs him.

“The deflection helped it and got us under way. We got the three points which was the main thing,” he added.

“Anywhere on the pitch, I enjoy playing, but to get the three points and to get the three goals against a QPR side that played well as well, it was great.

“Wherever I am on the pitch I try to affect the game. Today, because Gareth was out I was playing deeper and I enjoyed that.”

Naismith admitted that the strain of the Europa League had affected Everton’s early season form but is sure the team can now move up the table.

“Going into the Europa League this year gave us a few more problems in terms of the amount of games we play but when you work so hard to get into situations you want to take the club to the next level and that is being able to play week in, week out and multiple games in the league,” he said.

“That’s what we’ll continue to try and do and work our way up the table.”

Mirallas was carried off on a stretcher at the end and Martinez revealed the midfielder is set for a scan on his ankle.

“Kevin is a real negative today, he’s got a real bad ankle,” he said. “We’re going to scan it in the morning and see the extent of the injury.

“It was a real disappointment to see him carried off at the end.”

On a more positive note, the manager was delighted with his team’s cutting edge in front of goal.

“I was really really pleased in the manner that we carried that sort of threat,” he said.

“We always had a good balance, we defended well when we had to, we had real good pace on the counter-attack and overall we were clinical in front of goal.”

Martinez was also full of praise for Barkley, who took the man of the match honours.

“The big enjoyment working with Ross is how quickly he takes concepts on and how quickly he experiments with different starting positions.

“The power and pace that he has combined with that technical ability and ball control makes him special.

“Sometimes you get a really talented footballer who is skillful on the ball or the powerful and strong that can show that physicality on the pitch. He’s got both.”

Rangers boss Harry Redknapp was pleased with his team’s performance despite them still looking for a first point on the road this season.

“I felt the Everton crowd were very edgy tonight,” he said. “If ever there was a chance to come here and get a result, it was tonight.

“I wasn’t disappointed how we played. I thought we played okay tonight.”

He added: “I thought tonight we got on the front foot, we pressed them well, we worked hard and I felt that we deserved more than what we we got from the game, we really did.”