Samuel Eto'o has said that Ross Barkley has potential to be a better player for Everton than Wayne Rooney was.

The striker has been working to help develop the club's young forwards, including the England international, alongside manager Roberto Martinez.

Eto'o told the Liverpool Echo: "I knew of Ross before I came here and when I met Roberto to talk about the team he was one of the people I was asking about. It is a pleasure and an honour for me to play with him and I think he can become this unique player that everyone dreams of.

"He has the same type of quality as Wayne Rooney had when he was here and he can even be better. He's still young so it's our work now to be around him and make sure he improves and delivers what he should deliver.

"I think we need to wait until the end of the season to see the kind of impact my advice will have on the younger guys. Not only on Romelu Lukaku, but a lot of the talented younger players in the dressing room that I think can benefit. We will see then what influence I have been able to have."

Everton host Swansea City in the Premier League this afternoon.