Everton's Arouna Kone earns 12-month contract extension

Arouna Kone earned himself a 12-month extension to his contract with Everton after making his 35th appearance for the Merseyside club on Sunday.

It was a just reward for the Ivorian, who scored a hat-trick against Sunderland in his "most complete 90 minutes" in an Everton shirt, said manager Roberto Martinez.

Kone's deal, which was due to expire at the end of this season, now runs through June 2017.

"Arouna has always had self-belief," Martinez added. "It's been as difficult as you are going to get - a new player coming to a new club, then having a career-threatening injury."

A serious knee problem robbed the 31-year-old of a chance to cement his status in the blue half of Liverpool. He had cartilage removed in November 2013, only months after joining Everton along with Martinez from Wigan.

But he has slowly rebuilt himself and his confidence.

"He never chose to blame anyone or anything," said Martinez. "All he wanted was an opportunity."