Everton look set to give left-back Brendan Galloway a new contract after manager Roberto Martinez praised the England Under-19 international.
Galloway still has over three years left on his current deal but having become an established member of Everton’s first team, Martinez is keen to reward the 19-year-old.
Brendan Galloway is a first-team player, he is not a young player anymore.
With what he has done this season he has earned the right to be considered a starter. I would like him to get a different contract.
He has got three years left [after this season] and he’s in line for a different one. We have been talking with his agent. We have just exchanged ideas at the moment and we’ll see where we go with that.
Martinez also spoke about the strength in depth that the Toffees have in the left back position, and said that it is as good, if not better than every other team in the Premier League.
At the moment, our options at left-back are as good as you are going to get in the league with Bryan Oviedo, Leighton Baines and Brendan Galloway.
It is going to be down to competition for places, whatever we need on the day and allowing them to fight for that position.
I don’t consider Brendan as a teenager who is just filling a role in the first team. He has earned the right of being an important player in the first team and that’s the way I see it.
Galloway has made 14 appearances in the first team this season after Baines was ruled out with injury, and he’s done an impressive job. It’s almost certain that Baines takes his place back once he is fully fit, but that is no slight on the former MK Dons player.
Everton face Bournemouth on Saturday and Martinez admitted that he is yet to decide whether to bring Baines back into the starting eleven.
Physically Leighton is fine from a medical point of view. Now it’s about giving him the right sort of introduction. More than anything it’s about confidence, about going into a 50-50 challenge without being fearful because of the way he got the [second] injury by blocking a ball, not by stretching.
It’s about preparing his body to be physically strong, but it is great to see him back in training. It’s about giving him exactly what he needs, not rushing him back and losing him for the rest of the campaign. We can use his freshness and experience for the rest of the season.
