Martinez: Barkley will become England's best ever player

The youngster has established himself as a regular for both club and country in recent months and his manager has no doubts about his ability to become a legend

Roberto Martinez believes 20-year-old Ross Barkley can become England’s best ever player.

The Everton midfielder has earned nine caps for the Three Lions since his debut against Moldova in 2013, and played in every match of the country’s 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil.

And having firmly established himself as a regular at both club and international level Barkley has now been tipped by the Toffees boss to join the pantheon of England greats in the coming years.

"There is no doubt in my mind he will be the best player England has ever had," Martinez told reporters.

"Ross has everything. Normally a player has the pace and power to get around the pitch, or they have the vision to pick a pass.

"Ross can do both of those things. He is two-footed, he’s intelligent and he is also in love with the game.

"All he wants to do is play football. When we played in our first Europa League game this season he was gutted to be injured, because he was desperate to play."

Chelsea and Manchester City have both been linked with big-money moves for Barkley, but Martinez insists the club have no need to sell the midfielder, who he has labelled the "biggest asset Everton have ever had."

“The truth – and the key to his situation – is that we don’t have to sell," he added. "We don’t have to sell players to balance the books at Everton."