Everton boss Roberto Martinez rules out buying defender in January

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed that the club will not be hunting for a new defender during the January transfer window.

The Merseyside outfit will be without injured John Stones until the New Year, but Martinez is confident that Phil Jagielka, Antolin Alcaraz, Sylvain Distin and Tyias Browning can cope.

"We won't sign a defender, as you can see we have been performing well at the back and centre-half position is a position we are strong in," the Daily Star quotes Martinez as saying. "We are just making sure we get John fully fit and ready in the New Year."

The Toffees are currently ninth in the Premier League table.