Roberto Martinez says Everton's Ross Barkley still to fulfil potential
Monday 28 September 2015 10:38, UK
Roberto Martinez feels there is plenty more to come from Ross Barkley despite a significant improvement in the Everton midfielder's form.
Barkley has looked more like the player that broke into the England squad some 18 months ago in the early weeks of the 2015-16 season, but Martinez says there is more untapped talent in the 21-year-old.
He managed to score only two goals last season, a campaign that was compromised by a knee injury, but Barkley has already scored three goals in the Premier League this term to leave his manager purring ahead of his 100th appearance for the club against West Brom on Monday.
"Ross is in a very good moment of form," said Everton boss Martinez. "He has a real good mindset and it is incredible he has already reached that landmark - 100 games is an incredible figure.
"I see Ross as a very enthusiastic footballer who wants to get better and he hasn't fulfilled his potential yet.
"But he is focused on the next game and he is narrowing his aims and objectives into achievable goals so in that respect I have no worries about Ross.
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"His mindset is perfect to carry on having big impacts in games and being important for the team, as he has been so far.
"He came back after a very good summer in which he was able to switch off from football and I think all the lessons we had as a team in Europe [last season] in particular Ross, as an individual, made him a better player.
"We all know the quality he has. When you add good decision-making on that package of physical presence and technical ability is when Ross is at his very best.
"Good decision-making depends on many things. It is how good the team is playing, how easy it is to play with players around him and that natural approach of being able to be yourself.
"All those aspects have come together and Ross is enjoying his football and when he is enjoying his football he can show the level he has."
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