MX23RW : Friday, November 22 00:18:05| >> :120:3808:3808:

Everton boss Roberto Martinez: 'Nikica Jelavic is desperate to play'

Everton boss Roberto Martinez says that striker Nikica Jelavic needs to keep fighting for a place in the first team.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that striker Nikica Jelavic needs to continue working hard in order to bounce back into the first team.

The Croatia international has slipped down the rankings following the arrival of Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea in the summer.

"Niki is a top player and he's desperate to be on the pitch, but every top class player wants to be at a top class football club, and to do that you need to be able to cope with competition and high demands," the Liverpool Echo quotes Martinez as saying.

"His attitude has been a 10 out of 10 and that's why when a player comes on as a sub he makes a big difference and the team benefits."

When the 28-year-old has been on the pitch, he has struggled in front of goal, failing to score in five appearances so far this season.

ID:114526: cacheID:114526:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1385:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Everton's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Newcastle during their Premier League match on September 30, 2013
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Everton 3-2 Newcastle - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Steelers
@
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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!