Martinez has faith in Kone.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists his faith in striker Arouna Kone is not misplaced and he is not risking leaving himself short up front.

The 30-year-old has not played since sustaining a knee injury in October which has restricted his Toffees career to five Barclays Premier League substitute appearances, one Capital One Cup start and no goals after joining from Wigan in July last year.

Kone is still several weeks away from full fitness and although he is training with the rest of the first team he has not yet managed to be involved in a full week's schedule.

While Martinez has plenty of players who can operate just off the forward line, Kone is his only real back up to first-choice centre-forward Romelu Lukaku after he made last season's loan spell a permanent move this summer in a £28million deal from Chelsea.

The manager insists he is not desperate to bring in anyone else and is prepared to give Kone a chance to prove his worth - even