Stay in control of the latest Blues news with our Everton newsletter Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Everton FC will wait until the summer to offer “magic” Kevin Mirallas a new deal, says Roberto Martinez.

The Blues boss is relaxed about the Belgian forward’s future, content that he is under contract until June 2016 with the option of a further year also in those terms.

Mirallas, 27, is becoming an increasingly influential performer for his side, and gave Everton the lead at White Hart Lane on Sunday before they eventually succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.

The Belgium international has recently insisted he is happy and settled at Goodison, and Martinez will look at offering him a new contract when the current campaign is over.

He said: “He is a wonderful footballer - the type of player who brings you something different to the side in the final third.

“Kevin still has a long term contract with us but we’ll always look behind the scenes to do as much work as we can in those individual aspects. At the moment there’s nothing to mention.

“Kevin is fully focussed to be performing in the way he has done recently and get rid of his frustration from when he was injured.

“He’s a star. I’ve said that before - he has the star quality to find that piece of magic or important moment in the game to score a goal. He keeps showing that.”

Mirallas was badly missed during his recent two-month injury absence, and has quickly hit the ground running again after recovering from a hamstring damage.

Martinez admits a player of his quality would be difficult to replace.

“It’s not easy to find a footballer with that quality who can bring that spark,” he said. “It was a great finish at the weekend and it was a shame that goal didn’t end up with a winning performance as well.

“It’s an important period in the season now for everyone to get concentrating on the team.”

It is not only the Toffees manager who is an ardent admirer of the former Olympiakos winger. Team-mate Leighton Baines also reckons a fully-fit Mirallas will be crucial to Everton’s fortunes over the festive fixtures.

With seven games to play before the end of 2014, Baines says it’s essential that a player he describes as “one of the best finishers at the club” stays injury free.

“He (Mirallas) has done really well,” he said. “The injury he had was a severe muscle injury, so to come back and play 70/80 minutes in the three games was a real boost for us. He’s always capable of popping up with goals and he scored a great one at the weekend.

“He’s one of the best finishers at the club. If you are going to put someone in on goal in an important moment, Kevin would probably be at the top of the list because he’s composed.

“He’s always a player that we want to try to keep fit and I’m sure we won’t take any huge risks with him for the sake of it. We need him fit for this period, as we do for the rest of the players.”

Baines is used to forming a formidable partnership down the left-flank with Steven Pienaar, but is also enjoying having the skilful Mirallas in the attacking position ahead of him.

“Over the years there has been different players who have played in front [of me] and each has got their own specific individual profile of how they like to play,” he added. “Kevin is a player you will leave more one-versus-one with the full-back because he’s got the ability to twist and turn, come inside and, like he showed on Sunday, he can finish really well on his right foot.

“It’s a matter of recognising when there is space when he has gone inside or supporting him from behind and letting him do his stuff.”