Everton boss Roberto Martinez has revealed that he plans to offer Tony Hibbert a new contract.
The Spaniard stated that he still feels the long-serving defender has a lot to offer at Goodison Park, despite Seamus Coleman's emergence as one of the Premier League's outstanding right-backs.
Martinez told reporters: "We're already sitting down and we want to share how Tony feels and how that conversation is going to go because, in my eyes, Tony has got a lot to offer at Everton still and we need to make sure that [the talks reach] a positive outcome.
"Maybe, in a couple of key moments, he's picked up a couple of injuries that have stopped him playing more but I do value his contribution at the club and his experience and I would love to keep a character like Tony Hibbert, who means so much to us.
"He's played such a significant role and sometimes the fans don't see that. Sometimes you can get misled because you don't see a player playing week in and week out and you can feel that they don't have a major role in the football club."
Hibbert made just six appearances last season.
Paul Gorst
