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

Ross Barkley is part of the first generation of Evertonians in half a century to grow up without seeing his beloved Blues win a trophy but Kevin Kilbane believes Goodison's homegrown hero can put that right by lifting the Capital One Cup this season.

Born in December 1993, Barkley was just 18 months old when Everton picked up the 1995 FA Cup, their last major honour to date.

A victory at Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough would leave Roberto Martinez's side just one step away from Wembley and Kilbane believes Barkley can be a major factor in his former club ending their long silverware drought.

He said: “Growing up as a Blue, Ross won't have any personal memories of winning any cups but he'll have heard about the 1995 FA Cup final victory and all the success they had in the 1980s.

“When you get this far in a competition you have that expectancy around you and I believe the Capital One Cup could give Everton that real platform to build off. It's a huge opportunity.”

Cup of cheer

Kilbane was part of the heroic Blues side that against the odds secured the club's highest-ever Premier League finish of fourth in 2005 but for all Everton's league consistency under previous manager David Moyes, they were never able to end their cup hoodoo with a 2009 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea the closest they got under the Scot's stewardship.

However, Kilbane believes the current crop at Goodison have the talent to go one better.

He said: “To be close now and being a win away from a semi-final of the Capital One Cup is a big chance for Everton and a big pot to go for.

“So many Evertonians have been craving a trophy for such a long time.

“It’s going to be a tough game at Middlesbrough but you’d expect that at this stage of the competition.

“Everton have been in excellent form at times this season so I think it’s a big chance for them to win the Capital One Cup now.

“There’s definitely something in saying that this side could secure their legacy by winning the competition.

“They have so much quality in the team now and it’s been building for the last 10 years.

“Last year was a disappointment but this season we’re getting back on track and there is a great amount of talent within the side.”

Hitting the heights

Kilbane is a huge fan of the Blues young gems like John Stones, Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu but he believes Barkley is the jewel in the crown.

He said: “For a long time we’ve all been expecting Ross to reach the level that he has this season while Lukaku is banging the goals away.

“It’s incredible that Rom has got to 50 Premier League goals at the age he is when you look at the others who have done it.

“There’s so much creativity throughout the pitch now within the side that there’s almost an expectancy from everyone that something good is going to happen.

“The big plus for me is Barkley. He had been getting a bit of stick and faced criticism but for someone so young to take that on the chin and come back and show that level of consistency is something that everyone who has known him and has been around the club for a long time has expected of him.

“With that expectancy comes pressure and when you progress into the first team the reality does hit you at times and it’s difficult to live up to that expectation.

“But he’s doing it now. He’s not only scoring goals, he’s creating goals and that’s a real positive for Everton that he’s reaching those high levels.”

Thinking time

After a hectic summer in 2014 in which Barkley went to the World Cup finals in Brazil with England and then was injured on the eve of the 2014/15 campaign, Kilbane believes the midfielder has benefited from a chance to take stock ahead of the current season.

He said: “You’d be guessing at how he's thinking but if you look at him on the pitch you're seeing a massively confident player now.

“Last year he would often be taking the ball in the wrong areas and when he made a mistake is shoulders would seem to slouch. He wasn't able to replicate the form of the season before.

“I think he's had a good summer away. Sometimes a bit of thinking time can be dangerous for a player but I think he's had the opportunity to reflect.

“I'm sure Roberto Martinez has spoken to him, his own advisers, the people around him and his family and maybe he's just calmed himself down.

“He doesn't need to go out and be that world-beater every time. It comes natural to him because of the talent he's got and maybe he's thinking along those sort of lines now.”

Marked man

As his reputation grows, Barkley will have to cope with being increasingly targeted by opposition sides attempting to stifle his talents but Kilbane believes he is up to the challenge as he's been battling to meet expectation levels his whole career.

He said: “The fact that he's a local lad and a lifelong Evertonian creates pressure.

“Going back a number of years now we've all been hearing about this talent that has been emerging with Ross Barkley.

“When you get in the first team and that pressure is on your shoulders it's sometimes difficult to live up to the standards you expect. I'm just pleased that he's showing that consistent form now and doing the business game after game.

“Being the player he is, he's going to get targeted. People are going to man mark him and try to mark him out of games.

“He's got to try an reinvent himself so many times throughout games and throughout the season.”

Kevin Kilbane was speaking on behalf of Capital One – the credit card in your corner. Visit facebook.com/CapitalOneUKhttp://facebook.com/CapitalOneUK