Roberto Martinez has no qualms about playing Tony Hibbert at Old Trafford as Coleman continues to struggleVeteran right-back has started the Blues last three games with Coleman struggling to shake off a hamstring problem
Tony Hibbert in action for Everton
Seamus Coleman is facing a race against time to be fit for Everton FC’s Old Trafford test on Sunday – but Roberto Martinez has no qualms about asking Tony Hibbert to turn back the clock again if required.
The veteran right-back has started the Blues last three games with Coleman struggling to shake off a hamstring problem he picked up against Wolfsburg.
And Martinez knows Hibbert won’t let him down if he has to ask the 33-year-old to face some of the best assembled attacking talent in Europe at Manchester United on Sunday.
He said: “I’d have no concerns about using him at Old Trafford. “For him to be able to play the games he has against different types of opposition, tricky wingers with different ways of playing, he has done very well.
“That’s why it’s so important this season to have a strong squad. You need reliable characters like him.”
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“It’s so important to have someone like Tony around the place. First of all, forget about playing, his influence is huge on the other lads. But then when he’s on the pitch he brings that experience to everything. He’s always ready to perform.”
Hibbert is a defensively minded full-back, one who prefers to focus on the old-fashioned arts of the defender. And even though that type of right-back is increasingly less in vogue, Martinez does not value him any less.
“The different types of full backs aren’t really important,” says the Blues boss. “What matters is that you are good at what you do, and Hibbo is one of the best at what he does. He loves those one versus one situations defensively and he really knows how to be pristine in those actions.
“He has a real good knack of using his experience; a good talker and adaptable. I was pleased to inherit him from day one. He never just loses that appetite of loving the game. He’s a proper Evertonian.”
Meanwhile, Martinez is also sweating on the fitness of James McCarthy and Steven Pienaar, both rated 50/50 for tomorrow, but there was good news this week about Ross Barkley, who has been sidelined since the start of the season after picking up a knee injury on the eve of the 2014/15 campaign.
“Ross Barkley is developing well,” said Martinez “I hope he can join the group as early as next Wednesday and start working with the full team.”
“I think he will be back training with the team after the international break and then we will have to see how long it’ll take Ross to get back to match fitness from then.
“We could get some players back this weekend, James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman will have late fitness tests, so it’s too early to tell on those two.
“But Steven Pienaar has been training really well and I think he probably has got the better chance of the four players looking ahead to the weekend.”
Source: Echo
