Everton midfielder Leon Osman has admitted that it is difficult for him to accept being rotated with the Toffees this season.

After featuring in every Premier League game for the club last term, the 33-year-old has found himself with a lesser role so far, making just five starts in all competitions.

However, Osman, who signed a one-year contract extension at Goodison Park last week, concedes that less playing time is something that he will have to accept.

"I think they tell you it's something you have got to accept," he told the Liverpool Echo. "But if you ask most players out there they will tell you that they aren't ready to do that.

"I am no different. I want to be involved in every single game and I am fighting hard to make sure that happens. I was involved in every game last season so not to be so this time around can be disappointing at times.

"But we are in Europe now. We have so many more games to take part in. We have had to make the squad bigger and that makes it harder to be involved in every single game."

Osman, who has been with Everton since the age of 10, is contracted to the Merseyside club until 2016.