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| Everton boss Roberto Martinez to take inspiration from Howard Kendall's legacy |
AS Roberto Martinez listened intently to the anecdotes on how Howard Kendall transformed Everton into one of England and Europe's super-powers, his first thought was not to be intimidated by the legacy.
Instead, Martinez took inspiration from the many tributes during Kendall's funeral at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral on Thursday when the world of football turned out to honour a giant of the game.
No Everton manager has come close to emulating the purple patch in the mid-1980s when Kendall lead the club to two titles, plus FA Cup and European Cup winners' Cup success.
The weight of responsibility falls on Martinez to usher in a new era by ending a trophy drought which dates back to 1995, and he believes a perfectly-pitched service brought motivation to both him and his playing squad.
"They are valuable experiences for the players and especially the new players who need to get a good insight into what we are as a football club," said Martinez. "It was so rich to see how the ex-players speak about the football club and the success that we had and that is inspirational. I don't think that is pressure.
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| Martinez attended Howard Kendall's funeral on Thursday at Liverpool Anglican Church |
"It gives you a real sense of belief. We have done it in the past, why can we not do it now?
"For me, Howard just sets the example for what a manager should be at Everton and what a player should be.
"The dream he had, the vision of winning the league and becoming the leading club in Europe, came from nothing and that is inspirational in itself.
"It is not pressure. It is the opposite. It sets a clear path. Of course, there is a lot of hard work.
"It wasn't a straight path for Howard himself but it can be achieved and we have to be a football club that uses the past in our favour and tries to see a route through above finances and the above the modern game.
"From my point of view, having been involved in the funerals of Dave Hickson, Sir Philip Carter and Howard Kendall, they are very educational moments that allow you to be inspired."
Everton host Sam Allardyce's Sunderland tomorrow searching for their first Premier League win in a month.
Tim Howard will keep his place in goal despite errors in last week's defeat to Arsenal and the pressure applied by understudy Joel Robles, who emerged as the hero of the midweek penalty shoot-out win over Norwich in the Capital One Cup.
Yet with Phil Jagielka out for two months because of a medial ligament injury, Martinez does not want any further disruption.
"I know the times when the experience and know-how of Tim Howard is vital and is needed for the young players in front of him to perform," said Martinez, who could be without Seamus Coleman due to a stomach bug.
Arouna Kone is close to triggering an appearance-related one-year extension to his contract.
Allardyce has challenged striker Steven Fletcher to earn himself a new contract by firing Sunderland out of trouble.
The manager saw the Scotland international produce a fine individual display last Sunday to pave the way for a 3-0 derby victory over Newcastle, in which he scored the final goal to cement an opening win of the Premier League campaign at the 10th attempt.
Fletcher, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season and, having been linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light in recent months, has found himself at the centre of uncertainty for some time.
Allardyce said: "Steve's like every centre-forward in the end. His hold-up play is important to you because you can build off that - that in itself allows you to keep hold of possession a lot better - but ultimately in the end, you are judged on the number of goals you score.
"The more and more goals he scores, the more people will say Steven Fletcher is back to his best."
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