Everton youngster Gerard Deulofeu has urged manager Roberto Martinez to give him starting opportunities with the Toffees.

The former Barcelona man, who arrived in a £4.2million deal during summer, has been limited to only cameo appearances in the Premier League this season.

The 21-year-old made his first start of his second spell at the club last week against Reading in the League Cup where he scored the winner in the 2-1 triumph.

"The manager had told me to be calm," said Deulofeu ahead of Monday night's league meeting with West Bromwich Albion.

"That it is a long season and there will be a lot of opportunities to play. I have told him that I want to play now and I hope that I can play a lot more and help the team.

"I need to play more minutes. I want to play more minutes. This, for me, is very important. I find it hard to be on the bench. Like all players, I do not like being a substitute. But I have to wait for my chance and try to take it when it comes."

Deulofeu spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Goodison Park, but his loan spell at Sevilla last season was far from a success.

"The last three months in Sevilla I had did not play a single game, but my physical shape is good and I am ready to play whenever I am needed," added the winger.

"I am so happy to be back here. One of the most important reasons for coming back was that I had been so happy here during the year I had on loan. I felt at home here, very comfortable.

"This is my third professional season: a year in Everton, last year at Seville and now back here. I need to be a first team player. I need to play a lot of games and feel important to a team.

"If you have a lot of confidence, I believe everything will be fine."