Ancelotti insists James will improve next season

Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti, believes James Rodriguez will be a better player next season.

James, 29, has dropped off in form following a great start to his Goodison career with three goals in six games after a highly-publicised move from Real Madrid.

He misses out against West Ham on Sunday with a calf problem suffered in the warm-up before Everton’s defeat against Aston Villa last weekend.

Ancelotti doesn’t think his Colombian star will be a repeat of Samuel Eto’o who joined Everton to great excitement from Chelsea but lasted only 20 appearances.

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“I don’t think we can compare,” said Ancelotti. “James Rodriguez chose this club because I think he was excited about the project and he is still excited about the project.

“He played one year here, I think he is happy, he is comfortable here. He had some problems of course but this doesn’t affect the desire he has to stay here and to play for Everton for the future.”