MARTINEZ WON’T ALTER METHODS

A DEFIANT Roberto Martinez is refusing to curb Everton’s attacking style despite rumblings of discontent over his management at Goodison Park. The Spaniard masterminded a fifth-placed finish in his first season on Merseyside, but he has seen Everton slump to 12th position this term after losing five of their last seven Premier League games. Martinez’s side have leaked 31 league goals so far this campaign — only eight fewer than in the whole of last season. There are understood to be concerns around the club and even in the dressing room that the manager’s commitment to attacking football is leaving Everton exposed at the back, and there is little compromise to be found in Martinez’s singleminded approach. ‘You don’t win games by changing the style,’ said Martinez ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Hull. ‘Changing only brings doubts. I’ve been in this situation too many times. ‘Maybe when I was a young manager starting out, you would start thinking about (changing style) after a run like this but it is very clear — in football you need to be outstanding at what you do. It’s not good enough to be average. ‘Are we going to concede goals? Of course we are. Are we going to lose games? Of course we are. But it’s important we know the way we want to play and that is never, ever going to be changed. ‘Our style is very clear. It was very successful last season, giving us the biggest points tally in the Premier League in the history of our football club. ‘I’m very much aware of the needs of the British game. I have been here long enough and I’m not someone who works in percentages. I don’t work on having a good defensive record to win things. ‘We work on other aspects, and I like to have the talent that wins football games and try to build something that will allow the club to compete against sides that have spent a huge amount of money. We’re stronger than ever.’ There was more bad news for Everton yesterday when it was confirmed that goalkeeper Tim Howard will be out for up to six weeks with the calf injury he sustained against Stoke. The setback will almost certainly force Martinez into the transfer market next month, with Spaniard Joel Robles the only other senior keeper on the books. The Everton boss admitted centre-halves Phil Jagielka and John Stones are unlikely to recover from ankle injuries in time to face Hull City, while James McCarthy’s troublesome hamstring will continue to be monitored. Martinez, a qualified physiotherapist, is known to be concerned that Everton players have suffered 18 hamstring or soft-tissue injuries in as many months, and it was confirmed yesterday that the club’s highly-respected head of medicine, Daniel Donachie, has left Goodison.