Everton boss Roberto Martinez claims Man Utd’s Marouane Fellaini wouldn’t get into his team

Roberto Martinez believes that Everton have moved on since Marouane Fellaini left to join Manchester United last summer and isn’t convinced that the Belgian midfielder would necessarily be a guaranteed starter in the Toffees’ side currently.

Maroune Fellaini has been passed fit to make his first return to Goodison Park with Man Utd since his £27 million switch to United on transfer deadline day in the summer, a move that has yet to bear fruit with Fellaini struggling to make an impact at Old Trafford through a mix of form and fitness issues.

Martinez appreciates the talents of the Belgian and believes he will prove to be a success with the Red Devils, but insists that he is more than happy with the options he has at his disposal, feeling Fellaini would struggle to get in the team ahead of any of them.

Martinez told reporters, “I think you take a little bit of time to adapt to a new club and it’s not easy. Remember that it’s always a different way of playing football in many respects.

“I think that Marouane has always shown that he’s a winner. He’s a player that will find a way to be successful. That’s what you want to believe with him.

“Football is not that straight-forward that you bring a player from one environment to another and it works straight away. I think good players always find a way to be successful and sometimes it’s a matter of time.

“But you look at James McCarthy, Gareth Barry, Leon Osman – where would Fellaini fit? In football you move on so quickly. I’m just happy with the squad we have.

“And James McCarthy would never have happened if we didn’t let Marouane go. I’ve just been proud of the squad. I have been proud how we reacted in that moment. It could have been very difficult.

“It’s an incredible situation to be in with that mix of experience of youth and everything. It’s so natural. It looks like this side has been playing together for the last five years.

“You should never worry about losing a player, because if Manchester United couldn’t hold on to Cristiano Ronaldo, the rest of us have no chance.”