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Everton legend Joe Royle has been offered the chance to return to Everton and join Roberto Martinez’s backroom team.

Martinez wants to appoint a development director to liaise with the Toffees' out-on-loan players and monitor their progress, and Royle is his first choice for the job.

The club are speaking to the former Manchester City and Oldham manager, who was the last Blues boss to lift a trophy with the FA Cup in 1995, and hope he will agree to take up the new role.

Royle, 65, who was top scorer in Everton’s 1970 title-winning side, remains popular on his native Merseyside and his return to Goodison would be welcomed by fans.

Meanwhile, Martinez has hailed Tim Howard as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League after the American agreed a new two-year contract extension to tie him to Goodison until 2018.

“To have Tim performing as he has been this season, I cannot see past him to choose the best goalkeeper in the league,” said the Everton manager.

“For him, in such an important year with the World Cup around the corner, to commit his future for the long term is an incredible moment for the dressing room.”