Heitinga considering his future at Everton

Heitinga has made just two appearances for Everton so far this season and has been left out of the provisional Holland squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers with Hungary and Turkey.

The 29-year-old is desperate to be playing reguarly in order to safeguard his place in the Holland squad.

“I took a risk by staying at Everton,” Heitinga told Voetbal International. “I had a few options to move in August, but they were not interesting enough.

“But maybe something will happen for me in January. Everton know I will be a free agent next summer.

“I want to get back into the Holland team. Everyone knows how Van Gaal picks his players – on the basis of how much playing time they get for their clubs.

“At the moment I’m not in contention to be selected.

“Roberto Martinez has said Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are his first-choice central defenders. It is good to have clarity.

“But it’s going to be a big task for me to get back into the first team.”