Everton manager Ronald Koeman has explained that he hauled Ross Barkley off the pitch against Sunderland because the midfielder was not performing at the right "level".
The 22-year-old was substituted by Koeman in the half-time break of the Toffees' 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light on Monday evening.
The snub comes almost a fortnight after he was left out of Sam Allardyce's England squad, but Koeman has insisted that there are no issues.
"[Barkley] didn't show the level I expect," Koeman told reporters. "I know it's always difficult for the manager because he was not selected for the national team and you take the player off after 45 minutes.
"But I had to do something. He lost too many balls. But I will speak to Ross tomorrow and that's no problem."
Barkley has scored twice for Everton so far this season.
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Danielle Joynson
