Chris Beesley labels Vitalli Mykolenko as Sean Dyche’s new ‘secret weapon’ at Everton
Chris Beesley has labelled Vitalli Mykolenko as Sean Dyche’s new “secret weapon” at Everton after another impressive display against Crystal Palace.
The Ukrainian defender scored for the second time in as many games at Selhurst Park on Saturday (11 November) as the Toffees ran out 3-2 winners, with further goals coming from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye.
After an incredibly difficult start to his Everton career since arriving from Dynamo Kyiv, Mykolenko looks to have finally found his feet in the Premier League and Liverpool Echo reporter Beesley believes his growth this season cannot be underestimated.
Writing for the Liverpool Echo (12 November) he said: “Everton have a new £17m secret weapon. It seems as though goals are like buses for Vitalii Mykolenko.
“After an 18-month wait to double his Everton tally, the left-back now has two in as many matches, both in the most unusual manner too. Given Mykolenko’s early travails in English football – both on and off the pitch – his significant rise in fortunes this season under the guidance of Sean Dyche and his team cannot be underestimated.
“For a long time, he struggled to live up to his significant £17 million price tag having been given the arduous task of replacing Lucas Digne but he’s now hitting the heights on a regular basis and looking like an accomplished performer.”
Some run of form
Mykolenko has been criticised fairly throughout his time at Goodison Park as he has taken more time to adapt to English football than most expected when he arrived for a considerable fee from Dynamo Kyiv in 2021.
But in the last few weeks under the management of Dyche, the Ukraine international looks like a player reborn and was arguably the man-of-the-match during the Toffees’ win at Selhurst Park on Saturday to finally live up to the Everton supporter’s expectations.
His goal in the opening minute of the clash showed immense composure and even if it wasn’t planned, he created Doucoure’s second-half strike as his left-footed effort deflected off of the post to the feet of the midfielder in front of an open goal.
There is every chance that Mykolenko’s recent goal-scoring run is nothing more than a flash in the pan, but his overall displays have been incredibly encouraging, both going forward and defensively. If he keeps up this scoring record, he won’t be a “secret” weapon for much longer.
In other Everton news, Paul Brown has thrown into doubt a permanent move for Jack Harrison amid Leeds’ £30m asking price