Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton
Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton(Image: Jorge Horsted/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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David Moyes is sweating on the fitness of Vitalii Mykolenko for when Everton return to action at Hull City on Sunday, October 11. Mykolenko has been capped 55 times for Ukraine, but he has now been ruled out for their second consecutive match.
The 27-year-old, who made his international debut in a goalless draw in Turkey on November 20, 2018, while still turning out for Dynamo Kyiv, played the entire 90 minutes of Ukraine’s 1-0 UEFA Nations League B win over Hungary in Budapest’s Puskas Arena last Friday.
However, he was subsequently omitted for their goalless draw in Georgia on Monday with what was reported as being a minor knock with his absence described as a precautionary measure.
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Ukraine now ‘host’ Northern Ireland on Friday, although the war following the Russian invasion of their homeland ensures the game is taking place in Trnava, Slovakia, but the Blues player will not take part.
Ukrainian news outlet UNN report national team coach Andrea Maldara as saying: “Unfortunately, we cannot count on Mykolenko, he is not feeling very well. We do not want him to suffer an even more serious injury.”
Mykolenko, who has turned out 166 times for Everton since he was snapped up by Rafael Benitez for an undisclosed fee understood to be £17million on New Year’s Day 2022 after the former Liverpool boss fell out with Lucas Digne who was sold to Aston Villa later that month, has made 34 or more appearances for the Blues in each of his four full seasons on Merseyside.
The left-back has played every minute of Everton’s seven matches in all competitions so far this season and along with Ainsley Maitland-Niles (right-back) and Thierno Barry (striker), he is one of three players in the squad who is the only recognised option for Moyes in his position.
Alternatives in the role should Mykolenko remain unavailable include England international pair centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who was restricted to just 10 outings in 2025/26 due to hamstring injuries, and the club’s reigning Player of the Season, midfielder James Garner as both were deployed in that area at times during the previous campaign.
Moyes has been boosted by the return to midfield summer signing Christian Norgaard. The arrival from Arsenal could play in any behind-closed-doors game the Blues have planned for the international break.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Harrison Armstrong of Everton during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Crystal Palace FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Harrison Armstrong during the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 22, 2026 (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Harrison Armstrong has been promoted into the England Under-21s squad, alongside Liverpool Trey Nyoni, after Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) and Lewis Miley (Newcastle United) withdrew.
The midfielder becomes the third Everton player in Lee Carsley's squad along with Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George.
The U21s, managed by former Blues midfielder Carsley, host Slovakia in Stoke on Friday before travelling to Cork to take on Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Everton's James Tarkowski (centre) celebrates scoring his side's equalising goal to make the score 1-1 during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by David Horton - CameraSport via Getty Images)
James Tarkowski (centre) celebrates his dramatic equaliser for Everton at Bournemouth (David Horton - CameraSport via Getty Images)