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Everton boss has got it all wrong asking £22.5m-rated player to score goals – Opinion

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It’s not often you see a manager somewhat criticise one of their centre-backs for not scoring enough goals, yet that seems to be the case for Marco Silva and Yerry Mina.

Speaking to The Liverpool Echo, the Everton boss brought up the Colombian international’s lack of goals so far this season despite Mina only scoring just once for the Toffees as numbers from Transfermarkt show.

The Portuguese manager said ahead of Everton’s clash with Burnley this weekend: “When the ball comes in a good spot Mina does that. Unfortunately for us, he didn’t score, but let’s hope he can do it in the next game because he is getting the chances.

Silva added by saying: “Let’s hope that not just Mina but the others put the ball in the net because if we are more clinical the results will come.”

Indeed, it seems odd for a manager to bring up the goalscoring abilities of a centre-back, but with Mina scoring six goals in 20 appearances for Colombia as numbers from Transfermarkt show, it is understandable as to why Silva is demanding more from his South American defender to assert himself in the penalty area from set-pieces.

Though Silva is seemingly focused on goals, the Everton manager is wrong as to how Mina should look to improve his game, as we all know, the 25-year-old has not been the best defensively this season, and this should be what the defender aims to improve at.

As numbers from WhoScored show, Mina, who is valued at £22.5m on Transfermarkt, the Colombian international averages few tackles per game than the likes of Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Richarlison, as well as few interceptions per match than Morgan Schneiderlin.

The former Barcelona man has been poor this season and is seemingly a reason as to why Everton find themselves in the pits of the Premier League table, and although a goal or two this campaign will be nice, it is Mina’s defensive game that really needs to improve if the Toffees are to claw their way back up the standings.

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