• Premier League

Everton stars asked Martinez to play more direct

Romelu Lukaku scored Everton's injury-time equaliser against West Ham © Getty Images

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Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed how the squad asked manager Roberto Martinez to switch to a more direct style of play before the FA Cup tie with West Ham United on Tuesday.

Lukaku, who became Everton's record signing in the summer when he made his loan move from Chelsea permanent in a £28 million, said the players wanted to try and play more to his strengths rather than rely on the patient build up preferred by Martinez.

Everton did end a run of four consecutive defeats, but still required a 91st-minute equaliser from the forward to rescue a 1-1 draw and a replay, which will be played at Upton Park on Tuesday.

Lukaku said: "The players were asking about going more direct. I asked them, and we all said to the manager: 'Can we play a bit more direct sometimes?' We have a style of play where we keep the ball a lot, but knew we needed to take more responsibility, play to my strengths more, and they did it perfectly.

"We mixed up how we played a bit more, at times we were a bit more direct. For me that makes it easier, because when I am one versus one, running on a defender, that gives me a better chance."

Lukaku scored 16 goals in all competitions, 15 of them in the Premier League, during his loan spell last season. And while he has scored six league goals this term, he has seen himself dropped for recent defeats at Hull and Newcastle United.

"After two games on the bench I knew it was time to react," he said. "I wanted to show the manager how he can count on me. I wanted to show it was just a temporary thing, and now I am ready to move on and push myself to the limit.

"I want to win silverware, I want to end up as high as we can in the league and we have five months to do that. I just want to play my best football now."

Everton finished fifth in the Premier League last season, losing eight games across the campaign. But this season Martinez's side find themselves languishing in 13th, four points above the relegation zone, having already lost nine matches.

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