Danny Murphy hails Vitalii Mykolenko’s best game for Everton after what he did in Man United win
Vitalii Mykolenko played his “best game in an Everton shirt” as part of a huge defensive effort in the 1-0 win over Manchester United, says Danny Murphy.
The left back has endured an extremely testing introduction to life at Goodison Park, but looks to be settling in now and played a key role as the Toffees held out against Cristiano Ronaldo and company to preserve a clean sheet.
The 22-year-old was also a constant outlet down the left-hand side in attack in a positive display that helped Frank Lampard’s side claim a crucial three points.
Speaking on Match of the Day last night (9 April) Murphy said: “The tenacity of the side was everywhere, everyone was at it. Blocks, putting your body on the line. Exactly what you’d expect when you’re fighting down the bottom.
“There’s been a couple of games away from home where they’ve capitulated and the Everton fan’s have showed their disappointment, but not today.
“They can be proud of this performance because they’ve had three games in a week, and right near the end of the game, look.
Over a clip showing three Toffees lining up to block a shot from Aaron Wan-Bissaka he added: “Substitute [Demarai] Gray, left-back Mykolenko who had his best game in an Everton shirt, and [Ben] Godfrey all desperately trying to stop the equaliser.”
Coming into his own
It is little surprise that the Ukrainian has struggled to impose himself on the team since his arrival in the circumstances.
Arriving in a new country is challenge enough, let alone being signed midseason by a club in turmoil, to replace a popular outgoing player in Digne.
For the manager who brought you in to quickly be sacked would make the entire situation a nightmare.
And yet Mykolenko has played his way into the team, all against a backdrop of the harrowing news coming out of his home country after the invasion by Russia.
The relegation fight has looked overwhelming enough for plenty of the squad without these additional factors.
But yesterday’s performance was massively-improved across the team, and the full-back is starting to help fans forget his French predecessor.
A telling contribution in a few more important results to keep the side in the Premier League will go a long way towards that.
In other Everton news, one Everton loanee has been given no hope of remaining at the club by Kevin Campbell.
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