Everton have confirmed that Yerry Mina is an injury doubt ahead of this weekend’s Merseyside derby with Liverpool. The 26-year-old was left out of Colombia’s 2-2 draw with Chile (October 14) due to a thigh complaint, so he faces a race to be fit in time for Saturday.
Mina’s condition isn’t serious
Mina has played every minute of every Premier League game this season and played a full 90 minutes in Colombia’s 3-0 win over Venezuela (October 10). He only missed the Chile draw as a precaution after feeling discomfort in his thigh, so there’s a good chance he’ll play against Liverpool.
The 26-year-old hasn’t been able to escape injury problems since joining from Barcelona in 2018, making 46 league appearances from a possible 80 (57.5%). Mina amassed only 890/3420 minutes (26%) of top-flight football in his debut season (2018/19) and 2282/3420 minutes (66.7%) in his second campaign.
Ahead of Saturday’s meeting, we’re top of the Premier League table with 12 points from four games. Mina has been a regular alongside Michael Keane at centre-back and we boast the third-best defensive record (4 games, 5 goals conceded).
Carlo Ancelotti will be desperate to have Mina fit, as his absence would leave us short at the back. Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite have been out of action for a number of weeks while Lewis Gibson is currently on loan at Reading.
Time for Ben Godfrey?
Godfrey should make the matchday squad against Liverpool, but he could be in contention to start if Mina doesn’t. The 22-year-old was signed on a five-year deal from Norwich City and looks good enough to make an instant impact.
As shown from his performances in the Premier League last season, Godfrey is strong in the air (66/108 aerial duels won in 2019/20), composed on the ball (87.9% of 1660 passes completed), great at retaining possession (dispossessed only four times) (unsuccessful touch 13 made once every 203 minutes), willing to put his body on the line (blocked 45 shots/passes/crosses), won’t dive into challenges (one foul 15 given away every 176 minutes) and is difficult to beat in a one-on-one (dribbled past 8 once every 331 minutes).
Facing the defending champions will be dropping Godfrey in the deep end, but there’s still time for Mina to be passed fit.