Premier League: Everton boss Roberto Martinez hails Manchester City resilience

Everton manager Roberto Martinez says Manchester City have set an example to the rest of the Premier League on how to cope without star players.

City have drawn level with Chelsea at the top of the table after a run of eight wins and two draws from their last 10 league fixtures, despite missing strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, playmaker David Silva and captain Vincent Kompany for significant spells.

Aguero, Dzeko and Kompany all return to the squad for Saturday's clash at Goodison Park, but Martinez - who has had to deal an injury crisis of his own - said the way City had shrugged off the absence of their key men was hugely impressive.

"They are playing with real swagger and arrogance and they don't need many chances to punish you," said Martinez.

"I have been very impressed in the way they have coped with big players missing.

We have had four really bad results and we need to put that right

"It is always a sign of a good unit when you have probably the most effective players on the pitch missing and you can carry on finding a way to score goals and win games.

"It is not easy to lose strikers like Dzeko and Aguero for such a long time and go on such an unbelievable run.

"They have strong characters who can find solutions. Once they get the players back, the team could get a second boost in what is left of the season."

Goalkeeper Tim Howard, defenders Sylvain Distin, Tony Hibbert, Leighton Baines, John Stones, midfielders Steven Pienaar, Darron Gibson, James McCarthy and Leon Osman have all suffered with injury this term.

"Injuries always play a part. I don't think it helps when you have to change things around, especially in certain positions," added Martinez, who has made changes to the club's medical set-up in an attempt to improve the situation.

"There are certain players you can replace better than others and it is not ideal when you cannot find solutions.

"But in the same way it has been a good period to find out about our characters and I still feel this squad is strong enough to be very successful."

In contrast to their opponents, Everton have just two wins from their last 10 Premier League games and are on a losing run of four straight matches.

"It is one of those games where we need to take responsibility," said Martinez.

"We are at home, we have had four really bad results and we need to put that right.

"It doesn't matter which opposition you are playing against you need to look at what we can do and we are looking to carry on the signs we showed against West Ham [in the 1-1 draw in the FA Cup]."