Team-mate explains why he's happy Emi Martinez stayed at Aston Villa

Martinez has returned from international duty to Bodymoor Heath after his desired deadline day move to Manchester United failed to materialise.

The Argentina star was left out of Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, immediately prior to the international break, with boss Unai Emery deciding he was not fully focused on the game as speculation swirled around his future.

Summer signing Bizot, who debuted in Villa’s opening day 0-0 draw against Newcastle when Martinez was suspended, was handed the start and Emery must now decide whether to stick with the Dutch keeper for the trip to Everton, or bring back his more high-profile team-mate.

In an interview with Dutch website Voetbal Primeur, Bizot made clear he still sees Martinez as the club’s No.1 and heaped praise on the 33-year-old’s mentality.

Bizot said: "He (Martinez) is someone who, in a way, is similar to other South Americans I've met or worked with: they're very temperamental people who experience football at a completely different level. 

“He does that too. He's an absolute winner: every challenge he receives, from a training session or a friendly to a final: he always wants to win."

He continued: “Some people can handle that, others find it strange or arrogant. 

“But as players, you know: the image the outside world has of someone has nothing to do with how they are every day, at the breakfast table or in a meeting. 

“The outside world has a completely different image than you have as a colleague. I've experienced that more often in my career, while it's often judged by a single moment: one match, one clumsy action. 

“But we're all human, there's so much more to it. As a colleague, Martínez has been a fantastic guy from day one. 

“He's helpful, incredibly nice, and I think we understand each other very well. In fact, we've had a good connection and bond from day one. So I'm happy he's staying.”

Emery is keen to draw a line under the summer and move on, with all indications Martinez wants to do the same for the time being.

The keeper, whose future was in focus for the entire transfer window after he left the pitch in tears following the final home match of last season, has no desire to move to either Saudi Arabia or Turkey despite interest from clubs in both of those countries.

Villa, meanwhile, hope a Martinez with renewed focus can help them start climbing the Premier League table after taking just one point from their first three matches.

Deadline day signings, Victor Lindelof, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott are all expected to be in the squad for the club’s first-ever match at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium home.

Matty Cash is expected to be fit after suffering an injury scare playing for Poland, though there are doubts over Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana, who both have hamstring injuries.