Roberto Martinez keen to keep Kevin Mirallas at Everton

Roberto Martinez says he wants to keep Kevin Mirallas at Everton beyond the January transfer window and expects the winger to play a big role for the club this season.

Mirallas made his first Premier League start since the opening day of the season in the 1-0 victory over Newcastle at St James' Park on Boxing Day. 

However, he missed the 4-3 defeat to Stoke two days later because of injury and was then an unused substitute for the 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday. 

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Mirallas only signed a new three-year contract at Everton in August, but, according to reports in the Liverpool Echo, French side Monaco are hoping to lure him to Stade Louis II during the January transfer window. 

Martinez has admitted his squad is too big and players like Steven Naismith, who is attracting interesting Norwich, may be allowed to leave this month.

When asked if an approach for Mirallas would be welcomed, the Everton manager said: "No, not at all.

"Kevin signed a new contract in the summer. He had a really strong pre-season. We allow football to make decisions. We've got really good attacking options and Kevin was unfortunate.

"He started the first game against Watford and from there he had a little injury, he got a three-game suspension, but the way he's been working in the last few weeks earned him a start against Newcastle and he did really well.

"I expect Kevin to have a major influence in the second half of the season."

Martinez has been reluctant to lose players too early in the window because of Everton's hectic fixture list.

They play the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Goodison Park on Wednesday - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm - before an FA Cup third round clash with Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

Home wins have been hard to come by for Everton this season, with Martinez's men winning just three Premier League matches on home soil. 

They have won only two of their last eight matches - both away - but Martinez has no doubt the fans are still with his team.

"I think the fans are sharing the same frustration that we share," he said. 

"We know that we showed great signs this season but we need to be patient. The performances have been very consistent and probably that's where the frustration comes.

"But we all need to learn as a football club that we've got a special group of players and we have to help them.

"I don't think we've lost the fans. I think the fans see a fully committed team that give everything with incredible character and personality.

"Any time we get a blow, we always react, we always fight until the end. Some of the attacking football this season has been outstanding.

"Away from home we've conceded nine goals, but we've conceded 20 at Goodison, and clearly that's costing us a lot of points.

"We want to work hard to correct that. We need the understanding of our fans to make sure we make a top team into a winning team."