Everton boss tells Leighton Baines not expect to walk back into first team

Baines has been out since May, but is now on the verge of a return

LEIGHTON BAINES has been told he has a fight on his hands to regain Everton's left-back role from teenager Brendan Galloway.

 

Baines is closing in on a return after six months out caused by two separate ankle operations and is under consideration to return to the squad for tomorrow's trip to Bournemouth.

Manager Roberto Martinez has turned to 19-year-old Galloway in Baines' absence and the youngster's startling progress is to be rewarded with a new contract.

Beyond that, however, Martinez believes the duo are in a straight fight to make the position their own.

"I have a decision, as I have with any other player," said Martinez. "Brendan Galloway is a first-team player. He is not a young player any more.

 

"What he has done this season he has earned the right to be considered a starter. It's going to be down to competition for places, whatever we need on the day and allowing them to fight for that position.

"I would like him (Galloway) to get a different contract.

"He has got three years left (after this season) and he's in line for a different one."

 

Martinez no longer regards Galloway as a young player, but a first teamer

"We have been talking with his agent. We have just exchanged ideas and we'll see where we go with that."

Baines - who has 18 months to run on his own contract - played 45-minutes for Everton under-21s against Porto in the Premier League International Cup last Sunday and Martinez is mindful of rebuilding his confidence after so long out.

"More than anything it's about confidence, about going into 50-50 challenge without being fearful because of the way he got the injury by blocking a ball," said Martinez.