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Cape Town - Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that Aiden McGeady and
Samuel Eto'o's knowledge of Russian conditions will be advantageous
ahead of their Europa League clash with FC Krasnodar on Thursday.
McGeady spent three-and-a-half seasons with Spartak Moscow prior to his arrival at Goodison Park, while Eto'o enjoyed a spell with Anzhi Makhachkala.
Trips to Russia have proven a stumbling block for many teams in the past, and Martinez is hopeful that the pair's experience will aid the Toffees.
"It helps that they have played in the league," said the Spaniard ahead of his side's Group H encounter against the Russian Premier League outfit.
"When you come to an unknown environment like the one we have now, I think you can embrace it when you have a little bit of detail from some of the players.
"The word is that the Russian league is exciting, there is a lot of investment behind it and the teams are developing really strongly.
"When you come to an unknown environment like the one we have now, I think you can embrace it when you have a little bit of detail from some of the players. We are not going to underestimate the game."
Everton head into the clash on the back of a poor run of form which has seen them lose two and draw one of their last three fixtures, with the Merseysiders' last victory came in the first round of Europa League fixtures, a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg.
McGeady spent three-and-a-half seasons with Spartak Moscow prior to his arrival at Goodison Park, while Eto'o enjoyed a spell with Anzhi Makhachkala.
Trips to Russia have proven a stumbling block for many teams in the past, and Martinez is hopeful that the pair's experience will aid the Toffees.
"It helps that they have played in the league," said the Spaniard ahead of his side's Group H encounter against the Russian Premier League outfit.
"When you come to an unknown environment like the one we have now, I think you can embrace it when you have a little bit of detail from some of the players.
"The word is that the Russian league is exciting, there is a lot of investment behind it and the teams are developing really strongly.
"When you come to an unknown environment like the one we have now, I think you can embrace it when you have a little bit of detail from some of the players. We are not going to underestimate the game."
Everton head into the clash on the back of a poor run of form which has seen them lose two and draw one of their last three fixtures, with the Merseysiders' last victory came in the first round of Europa League fixtures, a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg.
