Everton boss Roberto Martinez expects Chelsea loan Christian Atsu to prove his worth

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has claimed he has an incredible feeling towards Christian Atsu ahead of the last part of the campaign, even though the Chelsea loanee has barely played for the Toffes since his arrival from Stamford Bridge.

The West London side signed the 23-year-old winger in summer 2013 for a reported £3.5m from Portuguese champions Porto.

Jose Mourinho opted then to send him on loan to Vitesse last campaign to continue his development, while in summer he moved to Goodison Park on a season-long loan to gain some Premier League experience.

However, the Ghana international has since only started one domestic league game and some reports during the January transfer window claimed Chelsea considered to recall him in order to send him on loan somewhere else.

But Martinez has now justified the situation, claiming he was aware from the very beginning the winger would need time before making an impact into the Premier League.

"We've not seen it yet but I have incredible feeling towards him," the boss said, according to Express.

"I have always been aware Christian maybe needed a bit of a period to settle into the British game," the boss said.

Nevertheless, the Chelsea man has recently proved his worth during the Africa Cup of Nations, leading Ghana to the final while being named player of the tournament.

Even though Martinez signed Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon during the January transfer window he hopes Atsu will replicate the same form in the Premier League to help his side in the last part of the campaign.

"It's the league. The physicality, the refs let you play, they allow more contact," the manager added.

"I always felt the second half of season would be his time and felt he would play a lot when he came back. He will have opportunities to show the player he is because we've not seen the player he was at [previous clubs] Vitesse and Porto"