Roberto Martinez Admits Everton Will Miss Gareth Barry Through Suspension

Roberto Martinez admits Everton will miss Gareth Barry’s “incredible influence” during his suspension.

Barry was sent off for the second time this season late on in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final victory over Chelsea.

The 35-year-old was booked for his involvement in the fracas that saw Diego Costa receive a second yellow card, before earning his second booking three minutes later for a foul on Cesc Fabregas.

Because it was Barry’s second red card of the campaign he must serve a two-match ban, ruling him out of Everton’s high-profile Premier League clashes with Arsenal and Manchester United.

“We are quite strong in every department – that’s what’s pleasing,” Martinez told the club’s official webiste. “We never look to have excuses for having players not available. We’ll never go down that route.

“The squad is ready and players have been working really hard. It’s going to be great to see what a new partnership can bring to the side.

But, clearly, Gareth Barry has been an incredible influence in the last three seasons, none more so than in this campaign, where he has been involved in every Premier League game.

“He is going to be missed but the challenge we face is can we perform in a really positive way, even when Gareth is not on the pitch? We have to rise to that.”

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