Roberto Martínez is considering whether to end Sylvain Distin’s Everton exile when the French defender completes his six-year career at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The 37-year-old faces a low-key finale to a fine Everton career having been frozen out by Martínez since failing to join West Ham United on 2 February.
The former Manchester City and Portsmouth player’s last appearance in a match-day squad was as an unused substitute against Crystal Palace on 31 January.
Distin and his fellow veteran defender Antolín Alcaraz will leave Everton when their contracts expire this summer. Neither has been offered an extension. Senior figures at the club, however, believe Distin merits a more distinguished farewell after 209 appearances for the club and having proven an astute purchase by David Moyes, who spent £5m to sign the centre-half from Fratton Park in 2009 in the wake of Joleon Lescott’s £22m transfer to Manchester City.
That view, and a request for Distin to be at least considered for the last game of the season at home to Tottenham, has been expressed to the Everton manager. Whether Martínez will act on the request remains to be seen, with the manager having handed the 19-year-old Brendan Galloway his full debut in the win at West Ham on Saturday as he looks towards the future.
