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Roberto Martinez has warned Everton’s under-performing players they can’t expect to simply ‘turn it on’ at Wembley.

A much-changed Blues side drew 1-1 with Southampton at Goodison on Saturday but struggled for long periods in a drab game.

Martinez has revealed his disappointment at the performance of some of those who were given a chance to impress ahead of a “defining” week for the club.

With injuries and a suspension to James McCarthy depriving the Blues manager of his first-choice side, he was forced to make six changes from the match with Crystal Palace.

Martinez’s woes were compounded when Seamus Coleman went off with a hamstring injury in the second-half.

Academy graduate Callum Connolly replaced him and played well but few others impressed.

Teenage midfielder Tom Davies was also excellent when he came on for the last 10 minutes for this debut but Martinez bemoaned the performance of more experienced players.

“Every game is important for us and we’ll be as strong as we can,” he said.

“Against Southampton we were as strong as we could be.

“Ross and Rom could have only played 30 minutes maximum with the knocks they were carrying.

“The competition for places has been there and today one or two will be disappointed they didn’t show what they can really do.

“It’s difficult because we’ve had so many changes and the forward players didn’t get the service they usually get.”

Everton, enduring a six game win-less streak in the league, face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night before taking on Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

“I don’t think you can switch it on and off,” Martinez said.

“What you want is built on today’s character and togetherness.

“You can’t get to the semi-final and say ‘Come on now we’ll play well’.

“It doesn’t work like that.

“There were positives from Southampton apart from not seeing our normal fast flowing football that allows us to break teams down.

“You’ll see that with players coming back from suspension and injury.”

Victory in the FA Cup will keep Everton’s season alive and asked if this week was defining for him, Martinez said: “We’re involved in two competitions and it’s mid April and that’s after a lot of work over 10 months. There are defining weeks for teams all the time in world football.

“Barcelona have just had one when they were knocked out of the Champions League.

“Of course this week is defining but we embrace it and look forward.

“Southampton have it very different but I’d rather have it our way that we’re stretched to face them but we have a semi-final and an interesting derby to look forward to.”

“I always say football isn’t about managers,” he went on to add.

“My job is to allow my players to enjoy their football, enjoy the opportunity ahead of them and be as good as they can be.

“Then we’ll see where it takes us.

“It’s defining for this season of course. Every team has a defining week.

“Ours is mid April, others had it in February when they went out of the FA Cup. But we’re in the semi-final of the cup and you’ll see the best side of our fans and we’ll be Everton with an incredible togetherness at Wembley.”