---
title: "Martinez: Pienaar to make big impact"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/martinez-pienaar-make-big-impact/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Scott Morris"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2015-10-21T18:31:57Z"
modified: "2015-10-21T18:31:57Z"
---

# Martinez: Pienaar to make big impact

Steven Pienaar has suffered repeated injuries throughout this season and most of last season, but is looking to make an impact on his return to fitness.

The 33-year-old played a small part in Everton’s Under-21’s game against Schalke and in April considered retirement after playing only one competitive game in 2015.

Roberto Martinez has shed some light on the midfielders mental state, as well as explaining that he won’t rush Pienaar back into the team in order to avoid any reoccurrence of injury.

The Catalonian said: “Sometimes you get into a wrong momentum and wrong dynamic and the more you want to get back, you get a little bit of a set-back and you push your body even more,

“And then that develops a chain of effects where everything goes against you.

“Unfortunately, Stevie has been away from feeling happy, feeling like a footballer and feeling as though he can enjoy his football and we need to help him.

“We are being extra cautious with his recovery and giving him extra time to give him a good period of adaptation.”

“Stevie is a unique footballer within our squad and we need to get him fit because the margin we can improve, with him in the squad, is huge. We all sympathise with the tough period he’s had to go through.”

Pienaar will be looking to get some minutes under his belt soon, and Norwich City in the Capital One Cup looks like a possibility. If not, we can be sure that we will see a short cameo from him soon.