Premier League: John Stones a 'future Everton captain'
Saturday 4 October 2014 14:18, UK
Everton boss Roberto Martinez believes young defender John Stones is a future captain of the club.
Stones, 20, has started five of the last six matches, missing only the Capital One Cup defeat at Swansea in that time.
He had an excellent game in last weekend's Merseyside derby and faces as tough a test on Sunday as Everton head to Old Trafford looking to produce a repeat of their landmark win at Manchester United last season.
"John Stones has been in terrific form ever since he played his first (pre-season) friendly in the USA," said Martinez.
"Since then he has been growing as a footballer and he is a complete centre-half.
"In the modern game you need centre halves who are as good in defensive duties as they are exposing one versus one situations and being good on the ball.
"John has gone to the next level this season. He has shown he is ready for any challenge.
"Every time he has played for England he has done well and he is growing at club level every game.
"John is really well rounded but the focus is on what he can do at Everton - it is not up to me to measure his possibilities with the national team.
"He is a leader. He is born with that quality. He has real high standards in everything he does and for a young man he has always got the right approach on a daily basis.
"In my eyes he is a potential captain and leader, someone very close to Phil Jagielka and Gareth Barry.
"He has a good core to learn from - Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz and it has been beneficial having Tim Howard behind him.
"Clearly in the last few weeks he has earned his place and performances have shown that."
Everton travel to Old Trafford after a long trip to southern Russia in the Europa League in midweek but they will not use that as an excuse.
Last season they recorded their first league win at United since 1992, on the way to doing the double over the Red Devils, but Martinez expects a tougher task this time around.
"To be able to win was a real mental barrier which we had to break down and it was a real feeling of satisfaction and dose of confidence," he said of last year's performance.
"This season it is completely different. We need to go there again and face a completely different side and way of playing and be able to adapt to that.
"The challenge is to go there and be ourselves and try to win the game."
