Martinez: Lukaku did well to last 90 minutes
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has said that star striker Romelu Lukaku was pitched into action sooner than he wanted but was delighted that the big Belgian lasted 90 minutes and says that this will do him the world of good going forward.
Rom had only been back with the group for a week, but the injury to Ross Barkley meant that he was forced into the starting 11 earlier than expected.
“Ross reacted really well to the work this week and I didn’t expect him to be so fit, so quickly,” said Martinez.
“We played a game behind closed doors and he managed to play a very good level for 45 minutes.
“And so the injury to him meant we needed Rom to take more responsibility in that attacking role and to be fair, I could not be prouder of his efforts and the way he stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes.
“He wasn’t a risk at all, it was well controlled and he is going to get a lot of benefits for that.”
Martinez added: “If it had been another type of game then he maybe would not have lasted the 90 minutes.
“But the tempo was so low, it was a great opportunity for him to get 90 minutes.
“If the game had been more open, energetic and dynamic then 60 minutes would’ve been all he could’ve coped with but the tempo was so low it suited him to be there for 90 minutes.
“You saw that he is enjoying every ball and he feels really wanted at the club.
“Sometimes when you pay a record fee for someone coming in it brings massive pressure, expectations and you don’t know how he is going to adapt, but he is the opposite.
“We know Rom inside and out, the fans know Rom inside and out and know what to expect. He knows what to expect and the fee just shows how much we love him.”
“We have got Arouna Kone who is fighting to get back to fitness,” he said.
“When he is not fit we are a little bit short but at the same time we want to give him his role and want Arouna to have a big role with us, so we need to measure it properly.”
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