Aaron Lennon ready for Merseyside derby, says Roberto Martínez
The Everton manager, Roberto Martínez, says his new signing Aaron Lennon can hit the ground running and play a major role for the club, starting with the Merseyside derby against Liverpool on Saturday.
The England winger Lennon arrived from Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the rest of the season shortly before the January transfer window closed on Monday.
Martínez believes that the 27-year-old, who struggled to nail down a place in the first team under Tottenham's new manager Mauricio Pochettino, is match-fit and ready to play.
"Aaron is very focused, ready to train and perform," Martínez said. "When you sign a player in January it is very difficult to find someone who is up to speed with his fitness.
"But he is. He's an incredible player, he is fully fit, and ready to make an impact and be involved at the weekend – that is very rare with a January signing."
Martínez also spoke of the photographs that appeared to show Lennon looking unimpressed as he posed in an Everton shirt. "I blame the photographer," he joked. "It's your job to make him smile. I'll change the photographer."
— Everton (@Everton)
February 5, 2025
RM: “It’s been great to see how Aaron has adjusted to training here. He is very happy and it was maybe a focused face in those pictures!”
"Will he start the derby? We have to be careful and make sure he knows the way the team plays. But I expect him to be in the squad and he has a massive role to play over the next few weeks, when we have a lot of games."
After an indifferent season, instead of a familiar challenge for the league's top four, Everton are 12th but are unbeaten in their last three league games.
They will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Tim Howard, who has recovered ahead of schedule from a calf injury but is still a week away from full fitness, for the visit of Liverpool with Joel Robles continuing to deputise.
Martínez says the recent form of both sides guarantees the derby will live up to the fast and frenetic battles of the past.
"The Merseyside derby is one of the most special games in world football," he said. "The last one at Goodison [a 3-3 draw] was a phenomenal football game with plenty of goals, both teams with an attacking mindset. I expect the same on Saturday. Liverpool are on a good run and we feel similar in terms of the confidence the win at the weekend gave us [1-0 at Crystal Palace]."
Recommended article: Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the this entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ
Related Posts
Roberto Martínez: Everton equipped to compete for Champions League- Football transfer rumours: Is Aaron Lennon bound for Everton?
- Tottenham Hotspurs Mauricio Pochettino expecting tough game against Arsenal video
- Liverpool set to reward teenager Jordan Ibe with new long-term deal
- Tottenham line up £15m bid for PSV winger Memphis Depay
- Life after Laudrup: five contenders for the Swansea City manager's job