Everton manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that Leighton Baines will need to "fight for his place" due to the in-form Bryan Oviedo standing in his way.

Baines spent the first half of the season out of action with injury and has been an unused substitute for the last two games.

Everton's last three games in all competitions have ended in 3-0 wins and Martinez is reluctant to drop Oviedo, who signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract on Friday.

"Leighton had a really tough period with being out with an injury for such a long spell for the first time in his career," the Daily Mail quotes Martinez as saying.

"He came back, got the rhythm slowly and he got in a very good amount of games in a short period of time but he had a knock against Carlisle and probably needed a bit of a breather.

"Leighton is a very experienced and important footballer for us and we will all get the benefit of having him fully fit and ready to go to fight for his place. He is now in a position where competition for places allows us to have a strong ending to the season. It just shows you the quality and competition we have in the squad."

Everton are currently eighth in the league table.