David Unsworth refused to enter a war of words with Joey Barton after the former England midfielder's criticism over the Everton caretaker manager's weight.

Ex-Burnley man Barton hit out at Unsworth following Everton's 2-0 defeat at Leicester on Sunday, which kept them in the Premier League relegation zone.

Unsworth is in charge after Ronald Koeman was sacked earlier this month and came under fire from Everton fan Barton.

The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Show all 8 1 /8 The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season How did the Premier League's big seven clubs begin the new campaign? Getty The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Everton (16th after 7 matches) Everton made a slow start to the season, despite spending over £133m on new signings. They drew with City before heavy defeats to Chelsea, Spurs and United. Getty Images The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Liverpool (7th) Liverpool's form remains as erratic as ever. A 4-0 win over Arsenal seemed to indicate that they had turned a corner, before a chastising 5-0 loss away to City. AFP/Getty Images The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Arsenal (5th) The alarm bells were ringing after successive defeats to Stoke and then Liverpool. But Arsene Wenger's side bounced back and held Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge. Getty Images The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Chelsea (4th) The defending champions have found things more difficult this season and lost two of their opening seven fixtures - to Burnley and Manchester City. AFP/Getty Images The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Tottenham (3rd) Oh, if only Tottenham weren't playing at Wembley. Their away form has been superb with four wins out of four but they remain without a win at Wembley. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Manchester United (2nd) United have finally found a way to turn draws into wins. A 4-0 victory over Everton is the highlight so far; a 2-2 draw with Stoke the only blot on their copybook. Getty Images The story of the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season Manchester City (1st) The Premier League leaders on goal difference. City have been in scintillating form, winning six of their opening seven matches and scoring no fewer than 22 goals. AFP/Getty Images

Barton told talkSPORT: "I saw him getting onto the coach as Everton manager the other day, he doesn't look right. He's waddling onto the coach. I was reading a British Army service manual the other day and one of the things it says is 'you've got to be fit to lead your troops into battle'. Now I'm not saying you can't manage Everton if you're overweight but it certainly doesn't look right.

"He's standing in his suit on the touchline, he doesn't look like a manager for me. He's a glorified PE teacher who shouldn't be in charge of a men's team. Look at him on the touchline... he's more like a steward.”

But Unsworth dismissed Barton's comments immediately afterwards.

"I've not seen that. It's not a problem what Joey Barton says, I couldn't care less," he said.

Defeat left Everton third bottom with two wins from 10 games but Unsworth is hopeful Michael Keane will return to face Watford at the weekend after being hospitalised following an infection in his leg.

Unsworth tasted defeat in his first Premier League game in charge (Getty)

Jamie Vardy's opener and Demarai Gray's deflected strike won the game for Leicester in Claude Puel's first game in charge.

Puel had been criticised for a perceived tedious style at Southampton last season, where they scored just 17 times at home, but is keen to dispel that myth after his Leicester era began.