Everton’s Ronald Koeman cannot avoid persistent Ross Barkley quandary

Everton’s manager reluctant to discuss midfielder but concedes he is unsure if 23-year-old will ever become the player everyone expected when he was a teenager

Ronald Koeman rolled his eyes when the subject cropped up but Everton’s performance in the Merseyside derby on Monday ensured there was no avoiding a repeat of the question. Namely, will the potential of Ross Barkley morph into the consistent performer David Moyes and Roberto Martínez believed he could be? “I am not sure,” Everton manager’s said. “I am not sure.” The honest appraisal may not sit comfortably with Barkley but represents a fair gauge of the midfielder’s predicament at Goodison Park.

Related: Ronald Koeman says keeping Romelu Lukaku will show Everton’s intent

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from Football | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2hgW9ys