Despite not having the financial clout of Premier League rivals, Everton have started to amass a squad worthy of a place in the Premier League’s top six, with strength in depth in the current Toffees group.

As such, one of the major tasks for Goodison Park boss Roberto Martinez will be to manage the personnel at his disposal this term and get his team selections right to win important games.

While midfield and attack are both areas that the Spanish trainer has decisions to make, one of the most eagerly contested positions in the team looks to be at centre-half.

The Merseyside outfit have forged an excellent defensive partnership between veteran Phil Jagielka and rising star John Stones, who look as assured as any pairing in the top flight.

With both players England internationals and the duo complementing each other with a blend of pace, physical stature and experience, Martinez will be happy to rely on the pair.

However, the introduction of Argentine enforcer Ramiro Funes Mori to the Everton squad over the summer has given the former Wigan boss something of a headache, with three excellent options vying for two starting berths in the team.

A product of the fabled River Plate youth academy, the 24-year-old starred for the Buenos Aires outfit for a number of seasons before attracting interest from Europe.

Everton’s capture of the no-nonsense centre-half was seen by many as something of a coup, but the central defender was expected to take time to adjust to his new surroundings in the English game.

But, with injuries at the back for the Merseyside team and a chance to slot into the Toffees’ rearguard, Funes Mori has looked very impressive in his first couple of months in the Premier League.

Dropped into the deep end against Liverpool in the local derby fixture, the Argentine looked comfortable on the ball, showed real positional awareness and won his individual battles, being commended by the masses for his showing in the aftermath of the grudge game.

Since then Funes Mori has looked adept in the Toffees side and offered Martinez an extra option at the heart of his defence.

With Ezequiel Garay recently injured, the Everton man was given a chance to start for Argentina against Brazil in a crunch World Cup qualifying fixture and again looked assured alongside Nicolas Otamendi.

He was also part of the Albiceleste side that shut out Colombia on enemy soil and give Argentina their first win of the qualifying campaign earlier this week.

Returning to club duty, Martinez will be given a real headache over who to select at the centre of his defence when all three options are available.

It is hard to imagine either Jagielka or Stones being dropped given their respective importance to the Merseyside club, but Funes Mori is showing the type of form that suggests that it will be hard to leave him out of the Everton side going forward too.