Everton midfielder Ross Barkley believes his new four-year contract proves performances on the pitch bring their own rewards.
The 20-year-old has signed a new deal which according to manager Roberto Martinez reflects his new role within the team.
Despite Barkley’s breakthrough campaign in terms of being a key first-team player, which also led to him being selected for the World Cup, the boyhood Everton fan said he had not been pushing for improved terms.
“I don’t go looking for new contracts, I go on the pitch hoping to play well and earn that contract and I seem to have done that throughout last season,” he said. “The better you play it just comes to you.
“I just want to focus on doing everything right on the pitch and that will lead to bigger and better things.”
Barkley knows he has to kick on from last season and he will do well to heed the experience of the last highly-rated young talent to earn a big contract at Everton.
Jack Rodwell was also an academy graduate with great potential but after signing a bumper five-year deal in 2010 his performances dropped off and, although he got a big-money move to Manchester City, it has not worked out.
“I am thinking about developing my all-round game and being a leader on the pitch,” Barkley added. “I am a young lad at the early stages of my career and I am confident in my own ability but I know there are a lot of things to improve on.”