Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton
Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton (Image: Getty Images)
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Hull City are back in Premier League action when Everton visit MKM Stadium a week on Sunday.
They will be hoping to build on a superb start to the campaign which has seen them take eight points from their first five matches and lifted them into the top half of the embryonic table.
Everton have had an even more positive opening, remaining unbeaten in their first five fixtures and sitting a point and a place above the Tigers.
That comes against a backdrop of of swingeing criticism after what many perceived to be a bungled deadline day and a suboptimal transfer window all-round.
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Failure to land Folarin Balogun or Joshua Zirkzee, combined with the departure of Beto left the Toffees with just one recognised striker, the talented but raw Thierno Barry.
Indeed the summer turnover left David Moyes’ squad exposed in several positions, with a limited number of senior players on whom to call. They ended up naming only 19 in their official submission to the Premier League, including four goalkeepers.
While they have a number of talented Under-21 players they can field, as well as striker they also left themselves exposed at left-back after Adam Aznou joined Malaga on loan. That left Moyes with only Vitaliy Mykolenko as a front-line option – and the Ukrainian has now picked up a knock on international duty.
The 27-year-old had played every minute of Everton’s Premier League and Carabao Cup matches and having also played the full 90 in Ukraine’s 1-0 win over Hungary last week, he did not feature in the goalless draw with Georgia on Monday and will not play against Northern Ireland on Friday.
Ukraine boss Andrea Maldera said: “Unfortunately, we cannot count on Mykolenko. He is not feeling very well. We respect him and would not want him to suffer a more serious injury.”
The extent of the issue is not known but Mykolenko is now considered a doubt for the trip to the MKM Stadium on October 11 which could have in-form right winger Mo Belloumi either licking his lips at the prospect of facing a defender with suspect fitness, or a makeshift full back altogether.
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