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Roberto Martinez says he will unleash Everton’s young guns on Europe once again, should the Toffees be handed the unwanted poisoned chalice of a Europa League place via UEFA’s Fair Play League.

The Premier League is currently in line to receive one of UEFA’s three bonus Europa League places for next season based on fair play and respect, and Everton are currently vying with West Ham and Burnley for that place.

The downside is that the places awarded are in the first qualifying round which kicks off on July 1.

Regardless of the problems that would create with pre-season preparations, Martinez insists he would happily embrace any opportunity.

“I don’t want to speak about this now because it sounds like we’ve already got it,” he said. “But to answer it very clearly, if we get awarded a place we will embrace it and we will enjoy it as a football club.

“The international players are involved with their countries until June 17 so obviously they wouldn’t be involved for the earlier rounds. But this is a competition we would accept as a football club.

“We have a lot of young, talented players who have already played in Europe and they will be desperate for that sort of experience.

“As a football club we would embrace that and I think the first four games would be taken in that manner. I wouldn’t allow that fair play position to get in the middle of our pre-season preparation.

“But we would embrace it as a football club. Absolutely.”

During this season’s campaign a clutch of Blues youngsters were handed Europa League experience.

Luke Garbutt was excellent in Wolfsburg while against Krasnodar in Everton’s final group game Tyias Browning, Ryan Ledson and Conor McAleny all started and Kieran Dowell was introduced after just 11 minutes.

“I would love to see our youngsters taking responsibility and representing Everton in the earlier rounds and see how far we can go. I don’t see that as a problem at all,” added Martinez.

The Blues boss also claimed that the possibility of a European slot via the Fair Play league would not affect the way he prepares his side for next weekend’s trip to West Ham, who are also in line for a surprise European place.

“Big Sam and I could end up punching each other!” joked Martinez.

“But it won’t come into our thinking before the game. I don’t think West Ham will be thinking about that. I don’t think Burnley, who also still have a chance, will think about it.

“It’s just one of those situations that when it happens you embrace it. I wouldn’t be disappointed at all.”

The Blues boss also admitted he agreed with the principle of rewarding football clubs and football leagues for fair play.

“It is the respect campaign, the way you approach the game and I do think that should be rewarded,” he added.

“It doesn’t happen every year. I think the best league in that respect is Holland. It’s not just your skill and quality on the pitch. It’s the way you behave, it’s the way you are fair or show very good sportsmanship, I quite like it.

“As football clubs we need to understand certain players need a break and a good regeneration period and I don’t think that would affect our preparation. We will go to Singapore anyway.

“And the games would be right in the middle so we are prepared to face it and enjoy it if it happens.”