Lille vs Everton preview - Martinez: Lille clash vital

Posted Thursday, October 23, 2014 by PA

Everton boss Roberto Martinez feels his side's double-header against Lille could well prove a "final" in terms of the way Europa League Group H pans out.

The Toffees take on the French outfit at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Thursday, with the reverse fixture following on November 6.

In a pool also featuring Russians FK Krasnodar and German side Wolfsburg, after two rounds of matches Everton are top with four points and Lille third with two.

And speaking at his press conference to preview Thursday's contest, Martinez said: "Lille are a team we respect and admire.

"They have had a few injuries and probably they are seeing tomorrow's game as the most important of their campaign.

"For us it is exactly the same, and it could be some sort of a little final within the group stage due to the importance of these games.

"I was a big admirer of the way Lille played last season - in some of the games they were really brave and really open.

"This season they have started well but are waiting to really click, and that is our worry. We don't want them to click tomorrow.

"We need to be concentrating on what we want to do and make sure we perform extremely well."

Everton will have at least 5,500 fans attending this game against Lille, who finished third in Ligue 1 last season and are currently eighth.

And Martinez added: "It is an exciting game from our point of view.

"We have phenomenal away support and we have been looking forward to this fixture for a long, long time.

"We are really excited to perform well and make our fans really proud, because we know they are travelling in big numbers."

There is set to be considerable attention on Divock Origi, the Belgium forward who made a big impression at the World Cup over the summer and went on to join Everton's Merseyside rivals Liverpool from Lille.

He is back with Les Dogues on loan for this term and has scored four goals in all competitions for them already in the campaign.

And Martinez has backed the 19-year-old to be a future hit in English football.

The Spaniard said: "Divock Origi is a well-known player already, including in England after his role in the World Cup with Belgium.

"We know that in years to come he is going to have a big say in the Premier League - he is a very talented young man."

Everton will be without Steven Naismith and Leon Osman for Thursday's fixture, the pair having being rested.

Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone, only recently back involved after long-term injuries, are not yet fully match fit so have also sat out the trip to France, along with Kevin Mirallas (hamstring) and John Stones (ankle).

Veteran Frenchman Sylvain Distin, left out the matchday squad for the last four games, has been included in the travelling party.