Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs has said that the club should "build a team" around its youngsters.

The Toffees are unbeaten in their last five league games and lie ninth in the Premier League table.

Romelu Lukaku, 22, has netted 50 goals in 100 appearances for the club, while Gerard Deulofeu, 21, and Ross Barkley, 22, have also been in fine form.

Stubbs told talkSPORT that the Toffees are an "exciting" prospect at the moment.

He said: "If Everton are going to become a top-four team they have to build a team around these young players.

"You look at the Everton team and the players now, whenever they get the ball they look like they've got lots of options and are full of confidence.

"Lukaku is unplayable at times up front and Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu. They all want to take the ball into tight areas and are not afraid if someone is close to them. Everton look very exciting at the moment."

Stubbs made 169 appearances for Everton across two spells with the club.