Vitalii Mykolenko playing for Everton.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Everton are gearing up for this weekend’s game with Chelsea, and fans have been wondering whether Vitalii Mykolenko will return to the side after missing out against Hull City.
Mykolenko was forced to sit out last weekend’s 2-2 draw with the Tigers, after picking up a muscle injury on international duty with Ukraine.
Speaking last week, Moyes said of Mykolenko: “He’s [Mykolenko] got a chance for Sunday, the extra day might help, we’ll see.”
That suggested that Mykolenko wasn’t going to be out for a long period of time, and that if he didn’t make it against Hull, then he would probably be back for the Chelsea game.
Everton have now dropped some training footage ahead of that game, and it potentially offers a clue about the full-back.
What’s your honest position on Thierno Barry at the moment? 10 big chances missed in the PL, but six goals across all competitions. It's fair to say he divides opinion at Everton, but Dewsbury-Hall is a fan…👀
Credit: Getty Images/James Gill – Danehouse/Gary Oakley – Everton FC/Everton FC
Yet to be convinced by him. Hes doing alright but still very wasteful. Id love to see a more experienced striker to help him even if it was someone like Big Dunc brought in to help with his training.
Yeah he’s well on course to smash last season’s numbers. Lots to like, just needs that conviction and consistency doesn’t he
He will smash kastvyears stats and moving forward will improve…..they all miss chances
Vitalii Mykolenko absent in new Everton training footage
Given that update by Moyes ahead of Hull, Evertonians expected to see Mykolenko back with the group ahead of this weekend’s game with Chelsea.
But ominously, he does not appear in the footage Everton have released today on social media. It’s unclear what day exactly the footage was taken. But Mykolenko not appearing is slightly concerning.
So far this season, he has been one of Everton’s most consistent performers. And against Hull his absence arguably had a detrimental effect on the backline. It meant Jarrad Branthwaite moved over to that position, and he didn’t look comfortable throughout.
Branthwaite moving over also saw Michael Keane partner James Tarkowski in the middle. The Tarkowski-Branthwaite partnership has been one of the highlights of the season so far, so that was disrupted.
Of course, there is still potential for Mykolenko to play this weekend, even though he is not seen in this new footage.
Moyes will speak to reporters at his press conference tomorrow and be able to provide an update on his condition. Hopefully, he will have shaken off the problem in time for Saturday’s game at Hill Dickinson.
Garner or Maitland-Niles must replace Mykolenko if he can’t play
If Mykolenko cannot play on Saturday, then Moyes should avoid putting Branthwaite at left-back again and instead plump for either James Garner or Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
There are simply too many drawbacks to putting Branthwaite out wide, including the fact that it is a far more physically demanding position for a player who has been quite fragile since being at the club.
Chelsea are very dangerous in the final third and Joao Pedro is having a particularly good start to the new season.
It would make far more sense to have Branthwaite back alongside Tarkowski where he has been shining.