ASSISTANT manager Steve Round has urged Everton fans to show patience with Argentinean striker Denis Stracqualursi.

The 23-year-old was handed his first start for the Blues in Wednesday night’s Carling Cup win over West Bromwich Albion and though replaced by Tim Cahill midway through the second half, made a promising full debut.

Round has praised the way Stracqualursi showed endeavour and willing in the third round tie at Goodison Park and says it will take time before Evertonians see the very best of the man brought in on a season long loan from Tigre in his homeland.

Stracqualursi is likely to start Saturday’s trip to Manchester City on the bench as manager David Moyes carefully manages the South American’s introduction into English football.

“There was only Denis Stracqualursi in the starting team who was not an international on Wednesday night,” said Round.

“Denis leads the line and holds the ball up. He's a tough lad and takes the hits. It will take a while for him to settle in and get up to full speed.”

Leighton Baines, meanwhile, says Everton midweek extra-time exploits should not leave them drained for the weekend’s early kick-off at Man City.

Baines (inset) reckons the players will have been afforded ample recovery and their recent record at City – where they have won the last four Premier League meeting at Eastlands – will also act a revitalising tonic for any weary legs.

“It’s a big game at the weekend for us, City have been doing really well but we’ll take confidence from the results we’ve had against them in the past and draw on that going into the game.

“We’ve then got a tough run of games over the next few weeks so it’s important that we’ve kept our momentum going tonight and hopefully we can build on it.

“It’s probably not (the ideal preparation, playing extra-time) but you’d be surprised once you’ve had your recovery and you get your mentality right for the game you’d be surprised how quickly you can recover.

“I don’t think we can have it hanging over us or use it as any kind of excuse, we’ve got to go there and do a job.

“We look quite fit and we were the ones looking for the goals towards the end of the game and into extra-time.

“They just keep growing and over the past few years they have kept adding to it. But we’ve done well against them in the past. We’ll use our past games as confidence going into but we’ve got to earn whatever we get.

“We’ve got a tough run of games now but hopefully we’ll come out the back end of it in a good position.”