Former Everton star Michael Ball has been blown away by the impact of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend at Goodison Park following their arrivals in the summer.

Gray arrived for a fee of £1.7m from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen while Townsend came in on a free transfer after his release from Crystal Palace.

Gray has gone on to make six appearances in the Premier League, scoring three goals and registering one assist.

Townsend, by comparison, has scored twice and laid on two assists in six games.

Ball believes that the pair are raising standards at Everton and hopes that their attitudes rub off on the remainder of the squad under Rafael Benitez.

Indeed, the Toffees have only lost once in the league at the start of the season and are currently fifth with 13 points, just one point off leaders Liverpool.

He said: “Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray have been fantastic since they’ve come to the football club. It’s quite surprising, the ability they’ve both shown and they’ve been involved in the majority of the goals by scoring or assisting.

“It’s their work ethic, to try to make things happen to win a football game, that’s what we want to rub off on the other players and hopefully their form continues.”

Everton are next in action against Manchester United in the early kick-off on Saturday.