With interest coming from the Premier league’s leaders Chelsea and Manchester City, Roberto Martinez has insisted that Everton’s midfield powerhouse will not leave in January.
“No we haven’t (had an enquiry),” said Martinez. “As you can imagine this January window for us is vital for recapturing our best moment of form and start building momentum.
“Our best performers, if they get a lot of attraction, they will not be going in January.
“We will always be buyers. We really enjoy watching Ross. He is someone with real passion for the game. You’d always pay a good entrance fee to watch him.
“But as a team we need to focus on the next performance and result.”
Everton supporters have recently been questionning Martinez’s style of football which has piled the pressure on the spaniard after a run of bad results.
The talent is there,” he said. “We have been through a really difficult period of bad results, something we have not been used to, and it is now about how we react as a football club to fulfil our potential.
“We are looking at the next game as the most important of the season even if it is not in the Premier League.
“Since we played West Ham, they have only lost two games. I expect it to be a proper, proper cup tie and an open game.
“When we play at home we feel we can beat anyone with the support of our fans. We need to start enjoying our play on the pitch. It could be a pivotal moment on the pitch for us.
“As a football club we have all been disappointed with the results, we are all well aware that in the Europa League we have excited and are looking forward to the last 32.
“We have three games now at home and it is important we support each other and help the players enjoy their football.”
Asked about what he would say to supporters who are losing faith in him as a manager he responded by saying: “I think that is completely normal, but we are here to win games in the future and not just for now.
“The fans know we are all together when we face adversity. We need to find solutions and find a way to become a winning side. Going through negative dynamics is just part of going through something in order to find a successful formula.”
Everton’s goalkeeper Tim Howard will not be fit for another six or seven weeks and Martinez would like to bring in a goalkeeper on loan to cover for Joel Robles should anything happen to him.
Everton also have injuries to Steven Pienaar, Darron Gibson, Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman.
“The goalkeeping situation is something that we need to look into, but the real work is trying to get our players back to enjoying football.
“We are a little bit exposed in that department. Joel is the only one with any sort of experience. We are looking into that position. I don’t think it would be positive for any youngster to have to make their debut.
“We need to rely on experience, but we don’t want to bring anyone in for the sake of it.”
James McCarthy has also been struck with injury and will miss the game against West Ham.
James is recovering but I don’t think he will be involved against West Ham. The hamstring is not ready to cope with 90 minutes of football,” said Martinez.
“We have to see how he develops every day.”
Written by Connor Breen
@Connor_breen12
