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Everton boss Ronald Koeman explains why he was pleased with Roberto Martinez

Everton manager Ronaldo Koeman (REUTERS)
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Everton are currently in seventh place in the Premier League table.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman

Everton boss Ronald Koeman has told the Daily Mirror that he was pleased with Roberto Martinez over the international break.

Everton had some bad luck over the past fortnight with injuries, with a number of their first-team squad picking up injuries while representing their countries.

James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori have all picked up injuries, which are set to keep them out for a considerable amount of time.

It is a major blow for Everton, but the good news is that both Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku returned from their time with Belgium unharmed.

And Koeman was thankful for the fact that Martinez rested Lukaku during Belgium’s friendly match against Russia.

“I was pleased by Martinez that, one, Kevin Mirallas was starting (in the friendly in Russia) and, second, that Romelu was not starting,” he said.

“That’s good for us, because he played for 95 minutes in the qualification game against Greece.

“You like people to understand… not like Ireland.”

Everton are likely to have to bring both Mason Holgate and Phil Jagielka into their team, with Coleman and Funes Mori sidelined.

The Toffees are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Liverpool at Anfield in what looks set to be a fierce Merseyside derby.

If Everton are able to pick up the victory against their city rivals, Koeman’s side could close the gap down to just three points.

General view inside the stadium before the match - Goodison Park