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Everton’s Steven Naismith has admitted that he might have to quit the Blues if he can’t get regular football under Roberto Martinez.

The Scottish international has endured a frustrating season so far at Goodison – despite netting a perfect hat-trick against Premier League champions Chelsea in September.

Norwich City had a £8million offer for Naismith on transfer deadline rejected but he hasn’t started a game since the 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United on October 17 with his only appearances since as a substitute in the Capital One Cup ties against Norwich City and Middlesbrough.

The 29-year-old said: “When Norwich were interested in me in the summer, it was the manager who said he didn’t want it to happen. But as a player you need to think about all your options.

“The manager said we’d speak about it again come January time so we’ll do that.

“At the moment I’m just concentrating on playing my football as part of a great squad and hopefully if I get my chance to play again, I take it.

“But you’ve got to weigh up all your options and see where you’re at.

“At the start of the season I wasn’t playing then got thrown on nine minutes into the Chelsea game and not many people would’ve seen me scoring a hat-trick. That shows you how quickly it can change.”

Naismith, who was speaking while back in Glasgow to sponsor a Christmas lunch organised by the Loaves and Fishes charity for the city’s homeless, admitted he’s found it challenging being forced to a role of understudy – along with the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon – due to the form of Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu and resurgence of Arouna Kone.

He said: “We’ve got a squad that is full of unbelievable young talent and when you’re not playing, it’s amazing to sit and watch these guys play with no fear,” said the Scot, who has tasted just four minutes of action in the last six weeks.

“But on the other side of it I’m frustrated that I can’t get into the team. Other times I’ve been out of the team it’s been because of injuries - but this time I’m fit every week, so it’s hard to deal with.

“However, as long as this good run goes I’m just going to have to get used to being on the bench.”

On top of his frustrations with the Blues, Naismith saw his hopes of reaching his first-ever major international tournament evaporate when Scotland failed to escape their Euro 2016 qualifying group.

A round of national soul searching followed that disappointment but Naismith is not ready to turn his back on Gordon Strachan’s squad.

He added: “I’ve not really thought about ending my Scotland career. I’ve enjoyed it all from my first cap against the Faroes back in 2007 right up until now.

“The last campaign was probably the cruellest campaign but we still believe that we can do something as a squad.

“There are maybe a few players that will have a look at their international career and think I’ve got a decision to make but the majority are coming into their prime so I can’t imagine there will be too many walking away.

“I don’t want to finish my career without having played at a major tournament so that is definitely a driving factor.

“The other Home Nations will be going to the Euros next summer and it’s frustrating that we won’t when we felt we were just as good, so that has got to drive us on in the future.”