Roberto Martinez will desperate for his Everton side to get their season back on track in this must win game against West Ham in the FA Cup third round on Tuesday.
Everton are having a very disappointing season so far compared their excellent performance in Martinez’s debut season last year, seven defeats in the last nine matches and four defeats on the bounce have seen the toffees drop to 13th just four points off the relegation zone. The Spaniard highlighted the importance of progress into the fourth round.
He said: “I do feel that it is a game in which he have to perform well and have to win, it will be a fantastic game of football and from our point of view it probably will be the start of something and give us a really good platform for the second half of the season.”
In contrast West Ham have had an excellent start to their season their second best in the Premier League era, they have had a slight dip form wise towards the end of the year not winning in the last three matches which has left them in 7th and have already lost to their opponents this season, losing 2-1 back in November.
Martinez is expected to make changes to his side with the option of recalling strikers Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o but Antonlion Alcaraz will be missing after his late red card at Hull. Defender Sylvan Distin could be in line for a return in Alcaraz’s absence with Martinez to scrap the three-at-the-back system.
West Ham will be without striker Diafra Sakho and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate who are on international with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, they could also be at risk of losing Alex Song who could get a late call-up for Cameroon. James Tomkins is available after suspension ad winger Matt Jarvis will be pushing for a place in the starting XI after coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw with West Brom on New Year’s Day.