Revealed: Why Vitalii Mykolenko is not in Everton squad for showdown v Burnley
Everton have confirmed that Vitalli Mykolenko has not been named in the Toffees’ matchday squad for their clash with Burnley because of a groin injury.
The Toffees confirmed via their Twitter account on Saturday (16 December) that the Ukrainian international hadn’t been included in Dyche’s side having picked up a “minor” groin injury in the build-up to the clash at Turf Moor.
Dyche had revealed in the build-up to the game that Mykolenko had been struggling with a knock, but the Everton boss was keen to say that the 24-year-old would more than likely be fit and available to start at left-back for the trip to Burnley.
It is unknown how long the Everton full-back will be sidelined for but the Toffees quickly return to action on Tuesday (19 December) for their Carabao Cup showdown with Fulham at Goodison Park and will be hoping that he is fit and available once again.
Big blow
It would have been hard to imagine that this sort of injury news would be viewed as a huge blow to Everton at the start of the campaign, but the Toffees left-back has been in superb form so far this season and his absence will be felt by the Toffees.
The 24-year-old has managed to keep a number of the Premier League’s best wingers quiet week in and week out and he would have likely done the same at Turf Moor on Saturday but now Everton have to find a way to still claim all three points.
Ben Godfrey has stepped into the Ukrainian international shoes at left-back and will be hoping that he can find his feet quickly in a rare Premier League start for the Englishman. In such a crucial game, he’ll have to be at his best to help the Toffees climb further away from the relegation zone.
Three points would extend the gap to the bottom three to seven points following the decision to call off Luton Town’s match with Bournemouth and the Toffees cannot afford to lose to a team that sit below them in the drop zone.
In other Everton news, Dean Jones has provided an update on Ben Godfrey’s potential Goodison Park exit this January