Joey Barton cannot believe that Cuco Martina has been picked ahead of Jonjoe Kenny for Everton.
Joey Barton has told The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT (broadcast on 11th September 2017; 6:41 am) that he believes that Ronald Koeman should pick academy starlets like Jonjoe Kenny and Callum Connolly ahead of Cuco Martina in the Everton defence.
The Toffees are arguably looking for a short-term solution at right-back with Seamus Coleman sidelined following the horrific injury he suffered on international duty last season.
Koeman bolstered their options by signing Martina following his release from Southampton in the summer. But after watching the 27-year-old make his first Premier League start in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at the weekend, Barton expressed his disappointment at Koeman’s decision to play Martina over the starlets.
“I see Martina who they took on a free from Southampton. They’ve got the young boy Jonjoe Kenny and another kid Callum Connolly, both right-backs who’ve done really well in the England youth sides,” he told The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT.
“Instead of putting a second-rate defender, which he is – Southampton gave him a free transfer – give your kids a chance. Everton have got a great academy, give the kids a chance because they’ve proven and they will prove in time that they’re more than competent.”
Of course, Connolly was loaned out to Ipswich Town this season, but there may well be some who agree with Barton that Kenny would be a better option for Koeman to put faith in than Martina – who certainly looked less than convincing against Spurs.
Martina has shown little that would suggest that he would put pressure on Coleman when he returns, so giving Kenny the chance to learn his trade for the foreseeable future should surely be an option worth considering.
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