All the latest news, views and transfer rumours from Goodison Park…
Everton suffered a disappointing loss at Chelsea on Saturday, as John Terry’s dramatic late winner sent Roberto Martinez’s side back to Merseyside empty handed. Ross Barkley came in for much criticism from Toffees fans at weekend following a poor display against Jose Mourinho’s men, but Everton left back Leighton Baines insists that the fans should lay off the youngster.
“Over the course of a season, every player’s form will fluctuate, usually more when you are young because you are still learning and developing,” said Baines. “What we have to do is be careful not to weigh him down with too much expectancy this early in his career.
“Ross is still going through these development years and discovering new things. The great thing for him is that this season he has had more football than before and been allowed to grow in that way, and both us and him will see the fruits of that further down the line.”
“I’ve been in the same boat this season with a similar injury and there is still pain after you come back. We need to show him patience and understanding.”
The game at Stamford Bridge once again emphasised Everton’s lack of goals or threat up front without Blues loanee Romelu Lukaku, and their troubles have been compounded with the news that fellow loan striker Lacina Traore suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up before Saturday’s fixture. The Ivorian had only just recovered from a hamstring injury since his arrival from Anzhi Makhachkala via AS Monaco, but has now strained a hamstring in the other leg, which is a huge blow for Martinez.
Meanwhile, Everton have been linked with a shock move for Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen, who would become the first player since Abel Xavier to make the move across Merseyside. The Welsh midfielder arrived at Anfield in 2012 with high expectations, but has failed to live up to his price tag. Martinez gave Allen his Swansea debut, and his hoping to reunite with the 23-year-old at Goodison Park in the summer.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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