MX23RW : Thursday, January 9 10:23:56| >> :60:549:549:

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
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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!