But the Spaniard said: “You never know how long you are going to spend (at a club) but what I can say is that I can see myself finishing my career at Everton.

“That wouldn’t surprise me at all.

“ The papers say ‘Mikel wants to go back to Spain soon’ that is not true, I never said that.

“They say would you like to come one day, probably I would like (that) but maybe I am going to stay in Liverpool for another seven years.

“I have never spent as much time (at a club) as I have spent at Everton, so that means something.

“I have found a place where I am confident I can achieve my ambitions and where I have improved as a player and learned a lot of things as a person.

“I am really happy here.”

Meanwhile, Tony Hibbert believes the imminent return of some key players has already increased the competition for places among the Everton squad.

Phil Neville, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar are all striving to be available for Saturday’s visit to Old Trafford.

And Hibbert reckons the prospect of integral squad members regaining fitness is pushing the rest of the team.

“The lads are always there getting their rehab and training,” said Hibbert. “A few of them are on the fringes of a return and it just shows what hard work they have put in. The players who are out are genuine class, so the players who are currently in the first-team are constantly looking over their shoulder when they are fit or not.”