Roberto Martinez has ruled out signing a winger before the end of the transfer window.
And the Everton FC boss is backing the on-loan Christian Atsu to give his Blues career lift-off when he returns to the side.
Atsu has helped Ghana reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals and produced a man-of-the-match display in their deciding group game against South Africa.
The 22-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Goodison Park after sealing a season-long loan from Chelsea in the summer and a miserable first five months at the club were compounded when he picked up a hamstring injury in December.
Everton have been linked with a number of players who could bolster their options in wide areas but Martinez is happy with his lot and believes a fully fit and firing Atsu can have still make his loan move a success.
“It has always been the plan that Christian Atsu will be an important player for us in the second-half of the season and so it was great to see him doing so well and his man-of-the-match award against South Africa,” said Martinez.
“He is a player who will come back strong and ready to have a big role.”
Everton have been linked with a number of wingers in the January transfer window but Martinez is content with the options at his disposal.
And despite the Blues being on a torrid run of form, which has seen them win just one of their last 13 games, the Goodison boss will not be looking to add in that position.
“I do think when Kevin Mirallas is fit and with Aiden McGeady – and the possibility of Ross Barkley and Steven Naismith to play in those positions – I think we are strong enough in those areas at the moment,” the Catalan said.
“But January, and any window, is always an opportunity where you can look to see if we can find specific characters who can help the players we have at the club, and we will always do that.
“I’m not saying we won’t try and work hard in January, we will, but we are not relying on spending money in January to find solutions when that would be a real gamble and a real risk.
“We have got the team, we know how well it performed last season and the group has more experience so it is finding that form back rather than spending in a window that we know is such a dangerous and difficult market to be involved in.”
Recommended article: Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.
Like this article? Please leave a comment below. Remember every comment left gives you another entry into the free prize draw to win Everton DVDs and Blueray.