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Roberto Martinez has claimed John Stones is "refreshed" and ready to help Everton back to form.

The centre back has only started once since January, but impressed during a second-half substitute appearance against Arsenal on Saturday which saw the Blues switch to a three-at-the-back system to try and deal with the Gunners.

In fact, since the end of January, Stones has only played 109 minutes of football for The Blues' first team after losing his place to Ramiro Funes Mori, and hasn't started consecutive games for the Toffees in almost two months.

Ramiro Funes Mori's less risky style of play has been preferred to the more elegant Stones in recent weeks; but with Blues fans once again bemoaning Everton's defensive issues, the door could be open again for Stones to return to the starting line-up.

However, Toffees' boss Martinez was impressed with the 21-year-old's performance at the weekend, despite a demoralising defeat, and suggested he could be coming close to his best form again.

He said: “I thought when he came out he looked refreshed, he looked full of energy, like the player he looked like at the start of the season.

“I think he has come back with a real focus and a real intent of performing well and I think the second half performance, the back three had to do everything, defend, get on the ball and try to play forward and I thought it was an all-action performance.

“He reacted well and anticipated things very well. He played really well, and he’s refreshed.”

Stones has recently been called up to Roy Hodgson's latest England squad and looks set to start for the national team, despite only starting one of the last nine games Everton have played.

The young defender has also not completed a full 90 minutes in a blue shirt since the 2-1 home defeat to Swansea back in January, which proved to be the last appearance he would make at Goodison Park for over a month.

Blues boss Martinez has also recently been quoted as saying that players could be in danger of losing their places in the Everton starting line-up for the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley if they don't improve.