Former Everton winger Pat Nevin has admitted that he is concerned about the possibility of seeing the club fall into a relegation battle this season.

A poor run of form has left Everton just four points above the bottom three, and Nevin believes that the key to a change in fortune could be whether Roberto Martinez is willing to accept he has made mistakes recently.

"My big worry is, and I think it's what every single Evertonian feels just now, you know that black hole of relegation which can sometimes suck you in? Well if you get caught in that all normal rules don't apply any more. All the usual things you do, playing with confidence and the ability of players coming to the fore, disappears," the Scot is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo.

"It falls apart. They can't let that happen. We can't let that happen.

"I don't want to be biased. Roberto Martinez is a good mate of mine. He's someone that I like a lot and I'm good friends with, but if he is making a mistake I'm afraid in my business now you need to tell him, and I need to say he's making mistakes."

Everton, who have won just one of their previous eight games, return to action against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.