Roberto Martinez believes Ross Barkley's performance in Everton's 2-1 League Cup victory at Reading was the latest demonstration that the midfielder is playing at a "different level".
Barkley scored Everton’s equalising goal, after the impressive Nick Blackman had given hosts Reading a half-time lead, and in his 100th appearance for the club was the crucial player in the second-half comeback that concluded with Gerard Deulofeu’s match-winning free-kick.
Read more: Thomas Woods's EPL talking points – Brendan Rodgers's position growing precarious at Liverpool
Barkley’s goal was the third of his fine start to the season, and came shortly after the international break in which he again featured for the senior England team. After a disappointing 12 months following a promising debut season that ended in selection for the 2014 World Cup, his career is again full of promise and his manager is confident that the 21-year-old’s increasing maturity is now being witnessed.
“I think he has gone to a different level,” Martinez said.
“It is fair to say that this season, for someone so young to already to have 100 games for our football club is an immense landmark. I think he is a completely different player from what we saw last season or a couple of seasons back.
“Maturity, always controlling the big moments, he had to be the one scoring the equalising goal, the important goal and I think his overall performance was of a player with a lot more age than he has.
“Extremely pleased – remarkable landmark for someone so young. We are all excited to see him progressing and developing into a very, very special player.”
Barkley’s reputation is again returning to the same level presently being experienced by Everton teammate John Stones, another expected to have a significant future with the England team.
The defender was substituted minutes into the second half after suffering a knee injury but Martinez, who had to reorganise his defence by introducing the rested left-back Brendan Galloway as a consequence, is unconcerned about his condition.
“It was more precaution than anything,” he said. “He had a little bit of a knock on his right knee and we couldn’t take any risks. He is going to be assessed over the next 48 hours but I don’t expect it to be anything too serious.”
Reading manager Steve Clarke, meanwhile, defended the performance of Ali Al Habsi following the loss.
The Oman goalkeeper had appeared at fault when in position to save Deulofeu’s decisive free-kick, but the manager said: “I’m disappointed. I thought we played well, especially in the first half.
“Everyone keeps telling me it was a goalkeeping error: I haven’t seen it. That is the life of a goalkeeper.”
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Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m, Winner SS Lamea, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m, Winner AF Makerah, Sean Kirrane, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m, Winner Maaly Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,600m, Winner AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m, Winner Morjanah Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,200m, Winner Mudarrab, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
