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Neville Southall believes Roberto Martinez should appoint a defensive coach this summer to prevent another season of frailty at the back.

The Everton goalkeeping legend thinks Martinez deserves another season to prove he can guide the team into the Premier League's top four, but warns he must first solve his side's ongoing habit of conceding too many goals.

Southall, who was voted Football Writers' Player of the Year in 1985, also reckons the Toffees need to bolster their squad in the summer by signing a commanding midfielder.

Speaking to Bwin news, Southall reflected on the pressure that Martinez has been under recently as results have fluctuated.

He said: "I personally wouldn’t get rid of him as I think he’s a fantastic manager but in the summer, he needs to sit down and see if he can find someone to work on the defensive side of the game.

"As I said, we’re amazing going forward but we’re struggling defensively. The situation regarding the board is so unknown at the moment. Nobody knows if someone is taking over the club, so what’s the point in sacking the manager and bringing in a replacement who might not be there in six months time anyway.

"Our problem is balancing attacking prowess with defending. I’ve got no problem with our attacking play, it’s old-school in that it’s outscoring your opponent rather than keeping it tight.

"But to be honest, they’ve got international players in goal and across the backline. They’ve got a good back four and if you can’t defend with five internationals, you shouldn’t be playing in the Premier League."

Southall is eager to see the Blues sign a potential captain figure in the Steven Gerrard mould to add leadership to the side.

"The team is missing a real leader in the midfield – a captain’s captain – to change the game," he said.

"If you look at the squad – and it’s a good squad – we’re missing one special player who doesn’t have to be a world-beater, but someone like Steven Gerrard who will come in and take a team by the scruff of the neck.

"Roberto Martinez sets the team out to attack but all the fans want clean sheets – if we want to win the league we’ve got to have clean sheets. Overall, we’re not far off but we’re definitely underachieving and we’re missing that spark. I look back at the Peter Reid’s and Roy Keane’s who would assert themselves on a team and make the players play to their tune."

Southall believes that Martinez is under added scrutiny because the current Blues team is largely players he has signed.

He said: "There will be massive pressure and he’s getting tons of stick. If we can get to the end of the season in the top five, the fans will be happy, but I won’t be.

"One thing I’ve noticed amongst the fans is that they are fed up with the manager coming out and praising the players and the performance when we lose 3-1, it gets a bit wearing."