Day or night, you won't miss a story with the Liverpool Echo newsletter Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Leighton Baines has revealed why he handed over Everton’s penalty taking duties to Romelu Lukaku.

The Blues full-back says it is vital the £28m striker scores as many goals as possible so offered Lukaku the chance to become the regular man from the spot.

Lukaku did not start taking penalties until after the New Year but has converted all four of the penalties he has taken since.

Baines insists he remains ready to take spot-kicks when required but wants to see Lukaku use penalties to boost his scoring record and his confidence.

When asked who he considered Everton’s first-choice penalty taker, Baines replied: “Rom.

“When Rom signed permanently I said then, if he wanted them, ‘no problem’.

“It was just about getting him scoring when we re-signed him.

“So I said ‘whenever you’re ready, just tell me’ because, again, I’m thinking of him as a player.

“Strikers live off goals and look at their records and if he’s scoring penalties, and his record is looking good, then his confidence is good and you’ll probably get other goals on the back of that.

“It can work the other way if they don’t go in, but if he gets the goals through that and the confidence...

“If he scores a penalty after 20 minutes, then he’s up and you might get other goals from that.”

Baines added: “So it’s partly that and, from the club’s point of view, he’s an asset.

“We’ve paid a lot of money for him, he’s a young striker who is going to be judged on his goals, not your left-back.

“If he finishes the season on 10, 11 or 12 or can slot five or six pens on top of that, it’s a different ball game when people look at his record.

“Now, you’ve got to score them and so far he has been. Unless he tells me otherwise, it will stay that way.”

Baines has scored three times from the spot this season but saw his effort at Old Trafford in October saved.

Evertonians have begun to wonder whether the 30-year-old had lost his confidence from 12 yards but insists he’s as happy to take them as he ever was.

“I’m relaxed about it either way,” Baines said.

“I’m not someone who is going to throw his toys out of the pram because he’s not on them.

“But on the other side it’s not like I don’t want to hit them, I’ve taken them for long enough in many a different situation and scenario - it’s not a confidence issue.

“I’m always available to take them.

“But I’m not egotistical and think ‘I’ve got to score these goals’.”

Lukaku was on the bench when Everton were awarded a penalty against Burnley last month and so Baines was expected to return to spot-kick duties.

But Ross Barkley stepped up to take it and saw his effort excellently saved by Tom Heaton.

“When we got it I was going up to take it but straight away Ross asked ‘Can I have it? Can I have it?’” explained Baines, who was attending a meet and greet with Poppy Comer, a Barclays spirit of the game hero earlier today.

“I thought ‘if you are that confident then, yeah’. I probably should have spoke about it before because Rom had been taking them but I’d just assumed I’d be taking them.

“So that was pretty much my call on the pitch because everyone would’ve assumed I’d have taken it.

“Ross turned around and asked ‘Can I have it? Can I have it?’

“I said yes because he’s really good at them and can strike them powerfully and I really fancied him to score.

“If it goes in, nobody’s bothered are they.”

It was not the first time Baines had allowed a team-mate to try his luck. He was still considered first-choice penalty taker in January when the Blues welcomed West Brom to Goodison.

Former Everton defender Joleon Lescott was penalised for handball but instead of Baines or Lukaku taking the penalty, Kevin Mirallas put the ball down - and sent his effort wide.

Then after Barkley's saved effort against Burnley, Roberto Martinez moved to clarify the situation.

'If Romelu Lukaku had been on the pitch, he would have taken it. Otherwise, I am happy to have three or four players who can take penalties and let it depend on how they feel at that moment,' he said.



*Leighton Baines was speaking at a Barclays event to inspire the next generation of fans to fall in love with football.

To win Barclays Premier League tickets and other football experiences search: Barclays Spirit of the Game.