There wasn’t much debate among Everton supporters over the need for a new right-back during the summer. Left-back was a little different.
But still plenty questioned whether Vitalii Mykolenko was good enough to remain first choice for Everton, while others regarded strengthening the position as almost as important as finding a solution on the opposite flank. I was one of them.
The decision to allow Adam Aznou to leave on loan only added to those concerns. It left David Moyes with Mykolenko as his only established senior specialist at left-back.
Yet, so far, the Ukrainian has responded about as well as Everton could have hoped.
Mykolenko has started the season strongly
Mykolenko has been a significant part of a defence which has started the season in excellent shape, and his own performances have looked noticeably stronger than they did for spells last term.
We highlighted Mykolenko’s impressive start earlier this month, and little has happened since to alter that assessment. He looks fitter and stronger, particularly in one-on-one situations, and there appears to be more confidence in his defending.
Mykolenko has never lacked commitment. The doubts were more about whether Everton could improve on him and whether he could consistently cope with the attacking demands placed on a modern Premier League full-back.
On the evidence of the opening weeks, he’s making a decent case for himself.
Everton still need cover at left-back
That doesn’t make the concerns surrounding Aznou’s departure disappear. If Mykolenko is injured, Everton’s lack of another natural senior left-back immediately becomes an issue. Those who questioned the squad planning when Aznou was allowed to leave on loan still have a perfectly valid point.
What has changed is the debate around the man currently holding the shirt.
Everton may still need another left-back for competition and cover, but the urgency to find somebody to replace Mykolenko looks and feels different after his start to the season.
There were plenty of questions about him during the summer. For now, his performances are doing a good job of answering them.
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