Everton manager David Moyes looking sad.
Credit: Imago
Declan Carr
Wed 3 September 2025 19:30, UK
Everton have been hit with a new injury blow just as the international break begins.
David Moyes has turned his side’s form around after they lost their opening game, with Everton winning their last two Premier League matches, rising to fifth in the table.
The likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish have really stepped up since signing for Everton, and will hope deadline day addition Merlin Rohl can do the same.
Everton failed to bring a defender in on the final day of the transfer window, and that may come back to haunt them.
Everton star Jack Grealish clapping.
Credit: Imago
Everton slammed for new Vitaliy Mykolenko setback
Everton have been handed a fresh blow as Vitaliy Mykolenko left the Ukraine camp, after an MRI revealed that the defender has a new injury.
MORE TOFFEES STORIES
Dmytro Babelyuk, who is a lecturer in health and care management at Arden University, was furious, claiming that the Toffees have managed the Ukrainian’s injury poorly.
Taking to his personal X account on 3 September, he said: “Vitalii Mykolenko has left the Ukraine national team camp with another muscle injury.
“Why? Because Everton rushed him back on the pitch just 18 days after his last injury and made him play two full 90s in three days. That’s not recovery, that’s negligence.”
He followed with another post, saying: “Shocking unprofessionalism from Everton, which is unbelievable to witness in 2025, in the Premier League. Now Mykolenko faces a longer rehab — but does anyone at the club even care?”
🇺🇦 Vitalii #Mykolenko has left the Ukraine national team camp with another muscle injury.
Why?
Because @Everton rushed him back on the pitch just 18 days after his last injury and made him play 2 full 90s in 3 days.
That’s not recovery, that’s negligence.
(1/2)#Everton pic.twitter.com/KwFJCc9Tgt
— Dmytro Babelyuk 🇺🇦 (@DimaBabelyuk) September 3, 2025
View Tweet
Vitaliy Mykolenko injury will leave David Moyes sweating
Mykolenko returned to action against Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup last week, after missing the opening two league games.
He played the full 90 minutes in the 3-2 win over Wolves, but that appears to have come at a heavy price, as he is set for another spell on the sidelines.
Moyes may have to rely on new addition Adam Aznou, who has a decent amount of pedigree from his spell with Bayern Munich and time in Barcelona’s youth ranks, but is inexperienced at the top level.
Mykolenko missed the opening two matches against Leeds and Brighton with a groin issue
James Garner played in defence while he was absent
Aznou was missing with injury, returned against Mansfield
It seems as though the decision not to push for a new defender on deadline day will come back and leave Moyes sweating over his team selection.
He will not want to throw Aznou into the deep end and leave him vulnerable to the dangers of exposing a young player too early, but he may be forced to, regardless of his intentions.
That depends entirely on how bad Mykolenko’s injury turns out to be, which we will find out shortly, and then Moyes can plan for the future and potentially have to throw Garner into the defence again.
Sign up for the Goodison News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Everton news sent straight to your phone.