Everton’s Kevin Mirallas says he’ll consider January exit

A player discussing his future while on international duty? Sounds like any international break.

This time Kevin Mirallas is the player in question and the Liverpool Echo has reported him as saying that he may leave if he does not get more first-team football.

Mirallas is rumoured to be concerned about his place in Belgium’s Euro 2016 plans at the end of the season, having been left out of the previous squad and the current one – only to be reinstated following Marouane Fellaini’s injury.

"I had some luck with injuries. This could offer me the playing time. If I have the opportunity to play, that’s all good.

"Given the situation in my club, it would do me good to have minutes with the national team.

"I know Roberto Martinez is aware of my work and he’s shown this with a slight increase in my playing time."

The 28-year-old did say, however, that he was determined to fight his way back into the Toffees starting line-up.

The playmaker’s future was subject to much speculation throughout last season and over the summer until he signed a new three-year deal in August, with a host of clubs interested including West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Those club's interest in the winger might again be spiked when he says:

"It’s not easy to live such a situation but it happens like that in the world of football.

"But in January, if my situation has not changed, I will ask questions and perhaps consider a departure."

"I don’t think in terms of my place in the national team.

In the summer transfer window the Blues signed two right wingers in Aaron Lennon and Gerard Deulofeu, while during this season Roberto Martinez has tended to play Tom Cleverley on the left (before his injury) and more recently either Arouna Kone, Ross Barkley or Steven Naismith.

The performances of Deulofeu, Kone and Barkley combined with the niggling injuries and three-match suspension the Belgian was given after his red card at Swansea City, has provided the formula for the frustration of Mirallas’ fourth season at Goodison Park.

"I want to first of all be playing at my club. I’m not asking for a transfer. I still have the prospect of staying at Everton.

"Game time comes gradually. I am a team player and I want to prove it.

"I approached the subject with Roberto Martinez. In September and October I was suspended for three matches due to an incident at which I was a little upset and when I came back the team was running.

"That does not help me and I found myself in a complicated situation."