MX23RW : Monday, March 24 03:25:15| >> :120:22960:22960:

Roberto Martinez: 'No personal targets for Ross Barkley'

Everton boss Roberto Martinez plays down talk of personal targets for Ross Barkley this season.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that he has not set Ross Barkley any personal targets for the coming season.

The young midfielder signed a four-year contract extension on Tuesday, and the Spaniard wants the England international to focus solely on all-round improvement.

Martinez told the Liverpool Echo: "We will get many questions now about what he has to achieve but we want so much competition in the squad that all Ross has to concentrate on is trying to be in the team. It's as simple as that.

"When you start thinking 'I need to score more than seven goals this season' or 'I need to do this' or 'I need to do that' then you can lose focus.

"When you lose focus on what you have to do to be in the first team then everything becomes very complicated. For Ross, it will be the same as every other player in the squad: you need to earn the right to be in the first XI."

Barkley scored seven times in 38 appearances for the Toffees last term.

ID:168233: cacheID:168233:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1958:
Written by
Paul Gorst
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ross Barkley of Everton during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and Everton at Carrow Road on August 17, 2013
Read Next:
Martinez: 'Barkley important to Everton'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!