Roberto Martinez insists he will not be rushed into handing Gerard Deulofeu his debut in English football.
The Everton manager resisted the temptation to bring on the 19-year-old in the closing stages against Norwich City last weekend.
Martinez instead used Steven Naismith, Victor Anichebe and Arouna Kone as his three allotted substitutes at Carrow Road.
Evertonians are eager to see on loan Barcelona wonderkid Deulofeu in action but the teenage Spaniard has so far been restricted to just over an hour of game time in pre-season.
After a late substitute appearance against Real Madrid in Los Angeles, Deulofeu started the game with Valencia in Miami but was replaced not long after half-time.
Blues fans were given a brief glimpse of the Barca youngster in the friendly with Real Betis at Goodison Park but they have yet to see him in competitive action.
Martinez, though, will not hurried into playing Deulofeu saying that it will take time for the talented attacker to get up to speed with the rigours of the Premier League.
Deulofeu spent most of last season playing for Barcelona B in Segunda Division – Spanish football’s second tier – and has played twice in La Liga for the Spanish giants.
The deal to get Deulofeu on a season-long loan has been seen as quite a coup for Martinez and Everton.
And the Blues boss is intent on handling the Spanish under-20 international carefully.
“Gerard is someone who is going to take a little bit of time to understand the physicality of the Premier League,” Martinez said.
“It is such a different game to the one he is used to so we need to be a bit patient and give him a little bit of time.
“But the talent he does have will be very helpful to the team.”