Steven Naismith says Roberto Martinez persuaded him to stay at Everton

Everton forward Steven Naismith says he is happy to remain at Everton after being persuaded to stay by manager Roberto Martinez.

Naismith was the subject of intense transfer speculation on deadline day after an £8m bid by Norwich was rejected by the club.

The 29-year-old has yet to start a game for Everton this season, but says he is happy at Goodison Park after being convinced he has a part to play in the club's future.

"I think that's just football," said the Scotland striker. "It was definitely a challenging time the last two weeks before deadline day.

"I had a decision to make about playing regular football. I thought about it and it was something I definitely had to consider.

The manager said he didn't want me to go and wasn't going to let me go. In the end, that takes the decision out of your hands and you just deal with it.

"The manager said he didn't want me to go and wasn't going to let me go. In the end, that takes the decision out of your hands and you just deal with it.

"I've said many times it's not a bad place to be coming to work at Everton."

Naismith came off the bench to score a hat-trick against Chelsea in last Saturday 3-1 victory and the former Rangers striker was delighted to claim the club's first treble since Louis Saha in February 2011.

"The pleasing thing for me was the reactions of my team-mates and my mates who were just genuinely happy for me," he said.

"A lot of great emotion for me at the weekend to take in. After the start you think it's against the champions who won the league last season, and had a world-class team, so it is something I will definitely look back on with fond memories."

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