Johnny Heitinga is prepared to stay with Everton.

Heitinga has struggled to break into David Moyes' first team so far this season , and has been constantly linked with a move away from Goodison during the January transfer window, but with Moyes reluctant to lose anyone from his threadbare squad and the 29-year-old settled in the north west, he is determined to prove himself.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "I'm working hard to get my place back in the team and I'm a fighter so I'll never give up.

"If the manager makes another decision and doesn't put me in the team that's his decision, and the only thing I can do is focus on the time I do get. Hopefully I can show everybody that I'm still the same person that I was last season.

"The most important thing as a player is that you believe in yourself and give everything you have, then the rest follows. The team is performing really well this season, but as a player you need a couple of games to get back at your level. I've spoken to the manager - he's happy with me and I'm happy with Everton."