Roberto Martinez says Apostolos Vellios has harmed his Everton FC chances by refusing to go out on loan
13 Nov 2013 07:00
6ft 4in striker is reluctant to seek game-time elsewhere and has not even figured for Alan Stubb’s U-21 side this season
Roberto Martinez has warned Apostolos Vellios that he has harmed his Everton FC prospects by refusing to go out on loan.
The Blues boss wants Greece U-21 international Vellios to get more experience at another club with several players ahead of him in the Goodison first team pecking order.
But the 6ft 4in striker is reluctant to seek game-time elsewhere, and has not even figured for Alan Stubb’s U-21 side this season.
Martinez insists he values Vellios's ability but said: “As a long-term I see him with great potential but in the short-term he needs minutes.
“Going out on loan is something we’re going to assess, but going down the line it comes down to if the player is open to do that, and in the past it doesn’t seem like that was something he was ready to consider.
“Tolis has got the potential to be a terrific number nine. He’s good in the air, strong, powerful and has good link up play and mobility. He’s at the stage now where he needs to be playing 90 minutes.”
Vellios joined Everton for £250,000 on a four year contract in January 2011, and made his first team debut that April.
He underlined his potential with a debut strike during the 3-1 win over Martinez’s former club Wigan in September, and followed that with goals against Chelsea and Bolton that season.
However, the 21-year-old - who chose the Toffees head of Fulham and Olympiakos - was subsequently dropped from the first team set-up by David Moyes and has barely featured since.
Despite his brief prolific spell suggesting a prowess at coming from the bench to net, Martinez believes Vellios will not progress that way and must play more full games to come back into contention at Everton.
“He’s past the supersub stage where he gives something to the team for 10 minutes,” added the Catalan.
“Now is the time he needs to start developing his decision making over 90 minutes. If he does that I could see him having a role in the first team.
“We’ll give it time but he needs games. We’ve seen his potential, and in pre-season he’s made sure everyone is aware of that. Hopefully we can get the next step in his development right.”
Source: Echo
