Everton v Krasnodar: Atsu hoping for first-team chance

Christian Atsu has vowed to impress if given a chance to feature in Everton’s final UEFA Europa League group game against Krasnodar.

Roberto Martinez’s side secured top spot in Group H on matchday five with a convincing 2-0 triumph in Germany against Bundesliga high-flyers Wolfsburg.

Everton are unbeaten in the Europa League so far this season, having comfortably dispatched both Lille and Wolfsburg in their previous two home games and drawing in both their away matches.

But Martinez’s men had to wait until late in the day to salvage a point from their trip to Krasnodar, who sit bottom of the group and are already out, back in October, with Samuel Eto’o snatching an 82nd-minute leveller after Ari had put the hosts ahead.

It seems likely that Martinez, who has already confirmed that Arouna Kone will start against the Russian outfit after a long-term injury absence, will rest the majority of his first-team squad on Thursday.

And Atsu, who has been limited to a peripheral role at Everton since his close-season loan switch from Chelsea, is amongst a number of fringe players that could join the Ivorian forward in the starting XI.  

“It’s been quite difficult since I came here but I believe things will be okay and go well,” the Ghana winger told the club’s official website. 

“I’m working hard for the team and I believe the fans haven’t seen the best of me yet and I know everything depends on the player.

“I don’t know if I will start [on Thursday] but, if I do, I will give my best to the team and fans. I will make sure I will be at my best to help the team win.”

Atsu, who spent last season at Dutch side Vitesse, has made just three starts for Everton in 2014-15, with the last of those coming in the trip to Krasnodar back in October.

Although Krasnodar, who entered the competition in the second qualifying round, are already eliminated, Atsu insists that Everton are taking nothing for granted.

“It won’t be easy, because they are a very good side,” the 22-year-old added.

“We have a very good team spirit and we want to win every game. We are not treating it like we have qualified – we are not going out to relax.

“They are well-organised and like to attack. I don’t know how they will play here but they attacked us [in the first game].

“But we are at Goodison, our home, so we believe things will go well with the fans behind us.”