Everton manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that he is worried about Yerry Mina following the centre-back’s injury against Newcastle on Tuesday night.
What’s the story?
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Toffees boss said: “It’s a quad injury. We’re slightly concerned about it, but we’ll have to assess over the next few days. Obviously losing Ben the other day makes it a double-whammy in an area of the pitch where they’re two big players for us.
“We’ll have to look at ways going forward to players that come in with the way we set up to move forward. They’re big players for us, but we’ll have to try and find a way to move forward without them at least.”
Fans will be worried
Seeing the big Colombia international having to go off yet again during a game has become a bit of recurring theme for Toffees fans, with the centre-back’s injury record since arriving at Goodison Park questionable to say the least – he’s missed 28 games alone in the past couple of years.
When he has been on the pitch, he’s invariably mean the man to hold things together at the back.
Michael Ball has previously waxed lyrical about the centre-back earlier this season, saying: “Yerry Mina is fantastic. When he’s on form, he’s a monster. He just loves football, he’s always smiling, happy. He loves the fight, loves winning headers and loves a battle.
“Mina though, is probably our best centre half when he’s on form. In seven games, our points are the best in a long time at this stage of the season and Mina is key to that.”
It was no surprise then that following his first-half withdrawal, the Toffees looked far more shaky at the back against Newcastle, with The Liverpool Echo’s Adam Jones saying in his post-match player rating that he “show(ed) promising moments in a physical battle with Chris Wood” – the Colombian won the joint-second most amount of aerial duels of any Everton player on the night despite going off in the 35th minute.
Being without Mina for the foreseeable future is a major blow to Lampard and one that will have Everton fans very worried.
Meanwhile, this Everton star let Lampard down vs Newcastle…