Jags 'needs protecting' over fitness concerns - Koeman

Everton boss Ronald Koeman has stressed his desire to "protect" club captain Phil Jagielka after leaving him out of Sunday's win over West Ham.

The 34-year-old centre-back watched the whole of the 2-0 Premier League victory at Goodison Park from the bench, having been replaced in the team by Ramiro Funes Mori.

Jagielka started all of Everton's previous nine league games this season, with his late substitution in the most recent of those, a 2-1 loss at Burnley, the only time he had not completed the full duration.

He endured a torrid time in the match before that, giving away two penalties - both of which were saved by Maarten Stekelenburg - in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City, a game that came just over a week after he withdrew from the England squad with a thigh injury. Koeman said of his decision on Sunday: Not always, but sometimes with Jag it is a fitness question. "I had already thoughts before the Burnley game. I like to protect Jag."

"November, December and January will be very tough for everybody, and sometimes you need to give players the opportunity to show.

"That was the reason finally that I changed and gave the opportunity to Funes Mori to start."

In the City game it was Toffees midfielder Ross Barkley who was demoted from the team and left as an unused substitute by Koeman.

It was another setback for Barkley this season after he lost his place in the England squad and was substituted at half-time in Everton's win at Sunderland in September.

Koeman suggested the omission at the Etihad Stadium should act as a "wake-up call" for the 22-year-old - and he certainly looked alert on Sunday.

Barkley capped a fine personal performance by striking home the second goal in the 76th minute from a cross delivered by Romelu Lukaku, whose header had made it 1-0 five minutes after the break.

Lukaku's goal kept up his remarkable record of one per game in all appearances for Everton against West Ham, a run which has now extended to nine matches. Sixth-placed Everton - missing Stekelenburg due to a foot injury Koeman said was not serious - had to battle hard for their first win in five league outings.

West Ham, 16th, went into the contest having not lost since the end of September and had several chances. Winger Michail Antonio feels there were positives for the Hammers to take from the display and they can make a swift return to form. "We have to pick ourselves up because we were unbeaten in four games (in all competitions) and we know we can do it again," Antonio told the club's official website.

"We could sense it was not going to be our day. Things were not coming off for us, but we still put in a good performance and kept fighting until the end."

Antonio added: We need to try and find a way of stopping Lukaku.

"We just have to pay more attention towards him and stop him scoring in the next game."

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