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Steven Naismith admits he could leave Everton in January

Everton forward Steven Naismith admits that he could leave the club in January to play more regularly.

Scottish forward Steven Naismith has revealed that he may have to leave Everton in January to play more first-team football.

The 29-year-old, who was the subject of interest from Norwich City in the summer, has featured for only four minutes in the last six weeks for the Premier League side.

Earlier in the season Naismith impressed with a perfect hat-trick after coming on as a substitute against Chelsea in September, but he has since lost his place in the team to the likes of Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu and Arouna Kone.

"The manager (Roberto Martinez) said we'd speak about [my future] again come January time so we'll do that," PA quotes Naismith, who was in Glasgow to sponsor a Christmas lunch organised by the Loaves and Fishes charity for the city's homeless, as saying.

"At the moment I'm just concentrating on playing my football as part of a great squad and hopefully if I get my chance to play again I take it, but you've got to weigh up all your options and see where you're at.

"At the start of the season I wasn't playing then got thrown on nine minutes into the Chelsea game and not many people would've seen me scoring a hat-trick. That shows you how quickly it can change."

Naismith said it was "amazing" to watch the Toffees' young attacking core of Barkley, Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku, but also admitted he was "frustrated" sitting on the bench.

"We've got a squad that is full of unbelievable young talent and when you're not playing, it's amazing to sit and watch these guys play with no fear," he added.

"But on the other side of it I'm frustrated that I can't get into the team. Other times I've been out of the team it's been because of injuries, but this time I'm fit every week so it's hard to deal with."

Naismith joined Everton from Rangers three-and-a-half years ago and has scored 25 goals in 122 appearances since.

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Hibernian Manager Alan Stubbs looks on during the Scottish Championship match between Heart of Midlothian F.C. and Hibernian F.C. at Tynecastle Stadium on January 3, 2015
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