Everton extended their unbeaten Premier League run to nine games with a comfortable 2-0 victory over former boss David Moyes’ Sunderland on Saturday.

The Toffees were looking to close the gap on sixth place Manchester United due to their participation in the League Cup final, and they did just that thanks to goals from Idrissa Gueye and Romelu Lukaku.

It means that Ronald Koeman’s men have won six of their last nine league matches, and haven’t tasted defeat in the league since their last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Merseyside rivals Liverpool on December 19.

Saturday’s victory, their 12th of the campaign, keeps the Toffees seventh in the Premier League table, although they are now just four points behind Jose Mourinho’s United in sixth, and should the Red Devils finish in the top five this term, sixth place would then become a Europa League spot.

That will surely be the incentive for Koeman and his men over the coming months, although some of his players will have more important things to play for – their futures.

Several men could see their Everton careers come to an end this summer, so here are THREE that are playing for their futures between now and May…

Phil Jagielka

Everton have been much better defensively since the turn of the year, and it seems to have coincided with Phil Jagielka’s omission from the first team.

The 34-year-old has not started a Premier League game for the Toffees since their 2-2 draw at Hull on December 30, and since then Koeman’s men have won five of their seven league games, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just four goals in the process.

Although the England international was not entirely to blame for their defensive issues at the start of the campaign, it’s clear that they defend better without him, so unless he can improve when called upon between now and May, his Everton career could be coming to an end this summer.

Aaron Lennon

Aaron Lennon looked set to go on and become an integral player for both Tottenham and England about a decade ago, having made his national team debut at the age of 19, and having moved to Spurs from Leeds in 2005.

However, having made 364 appearances and netting just 30 goals for the North London club, the 29-year-old moved to Everton in a bid to resurrect his career, and although there have been some impressive displays from the winger, he hasn’t quite hit the heights at Goodison Park.

Lennon made just 25 Premier League appearances for the club last term, netting five times, and has this time round seen his gametime reduce, starting just six times in the league under Koeman.

He is clearly out of contention for a regular first team spot, but if he does get the chance over the coming weeks and months, he has to take it, otherwise his two-year stay on Merseyside could end come May.

Arouna Kone

It was slightly surprising to see striker Arouna Kone remain at Everton beyond the January deadline last month, especially given that there was interest from a few teams in the Championship.

The former Ivorian international has not made a start in any competition for the Toffees this season, instead he has been restricted to three substitute cameos in the Premier League, which totals just 43 minutes, and three others in the domestic cup competitions.

And with Romelu Lukaku banging in the goals for Koeman’s men, as well as the addition of forward Ademola Lookman, Kone isn’t going to get much of a look-in between now and May.

However, the 33-year-old must fight for his place and be ready should he be called upon, otherwise he is likely to leave the club come the end of the season.