**Everton are sweating on Vitalii Mykolenko after he was ruled out for Ukraine.**
Mykolenko played the duration of his country’s opening Nations League win over Hungary but was absent for Monday’s clash with Georgia with a knock.
Reports at the time indicated that the left-back was stood down as precaution due to his ‘minor’ injury and was expected to return against Northern Ireland.
However Ukraine head coach Andrea Maldara has since confirmed that Mykolenko will also miss Friday’s home encounter taking place in Slovakia.
He said: “Unfortunately, we cannot count on Mykolenko.
“He is not feeling very well.
“We do not want him to suffer an even more serious injury.”
Should Mykolenko be sidelined beyond the international break, it would leave Everton without any established left-back for their October 11 trip to Hull City.
The Blues have previously utilised centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and midfielder James Garner as auxiliary options on the left-hand side of defence.