Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Vitalii Mykolenko is one of Everton’s most important players at the moment, following a suboptimal end to the summer transfer window.
The Toffees were left scrambling on transfer deadline day, having left their business late. In the end, four players departed, including talisman Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. Adam Aznou left the day before on loan, joining Malaga. That meant Mykolenko was left as the only natural left-back at the club.
Mykolenko has had a really good start to the new season, and has made good contributions to the Toffees keeping five clean sheets from their seven games so far.
But there is slight concern tonight, with Mykolenko missing out for Ukraine against Georgia.
He has an unspecified injury, the hope is that it’s nothing too serious. But what is Mykolenko’s injury record actually like?
Vitalii Mykolenko’s injury record for Everton
Everton need Mykolenko to stay fit until January, just as they need Thierno Barry to stay fit as well, being the only recognised striker.
Encouragingly, Barry’s injury record is actually very good, having only missed a handful of games in his career to date.
But Mykolenko’s is not quite as perfect.
Since joining Everton in January 2022, the 27-year-old has not gone a campaign without picking up some kind of issue. But at the same time, he has never been out of action for too long.
Games missed for Everton/Ukraine
2025/26: Three injuries, six games missed for club/country.
2024/25: Three injuries, five games missed for club/country. Illness saw him miss two further games.
2023/24: Two injuries, seven games missed for club/country. Illness saw him miss one further game.
2022/23: One injury, three games missed for club/country.
2021/22: No injuries, two games missed due to Covid.
Games missed for Dynamo Kiev/Ukraine
2017-2022: Eight injuries, 16 games missed. Illness saw him miss five further games.
Mykolenko has never been more important for Everton
Mykolenko may well turn out to be fine, but any talk of discomfort for any Everton players at the moment is cause for concern, with the squad being as small as it is.
It is so important that Mykolenko remains fit for Everton over the next few months, just as it is for Barry, with cover lacking for the left-back and striker positions.
Both players have done well so far, and it would be a major blow to lose either.
Looking at Mykolenko’s past injury record, there is hope that this will only turn out to be a scare. He hasn’t really ever suffered an injury that has kept him out for weeks on end and is a relatively durable player. Hopefully that continues to be the case.