Vitaly Mykolenko return vital for Everton to combat in-form Tottenham attacker
Vitalii Mykolenko has quickly become a fan-favourite at Goodison Park since his move to Everton in 2021 but his recent absence has been evident.
Due to suffering from a groin injury, the Ukrainian full-back was unavailable for Everton’s trip to Turf Moor and the EFL Cup defeat to Fulham, forcing Sean Dyche is multiple formation changes.
Without the natural left-back, Jarrad Branthwaite and Dwight McNeil have deputised in his position, with the readjusted team able to concede just one goal in two games.
However, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur are a whole different monster and the potential return of Mykolenko will be a huge boost ahead of the showdown on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to SB Nation, the Toffees manager believes that he is “back in the thinking” and could feature against Spurs.
Not only will it allow Dyche to maintain his normal 4-4-1-1 formation, with Branthwaite in his natural centre-back position alongside James Tarkwoski and McNeil further up the field, but Mykolenko will serve as an antidote to Tottenham’s in-form Dejan Kulusevski.
In the Swede’s last three appearances at right wing, two of Kulusevski’s direct opponents have been yellow-carded – West Ham’s Emerson Palmieri and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill. This can cause strain on the team, with the player unable to properly make a challenge on the in-form Spurs man.
His next opponent, Mykolenko, only has one caution in the Premier League this season, which came in the dying moments in a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace in November.
Despite a low tackle success rate of 58 per cent, the full-back has also made 18 interceptions during his 12 appearances so far. Instead of Dyche needing to find a brand-new alternative, it is imperative that Mykolenko is fit to start at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Even if Kulusevski starts in a more central role like he has done in recent weeks, to make room for Brennan Johnson and Richarlison, the Swede tends to drift out wide and the Toffees man will be there to shut down any attacking sequences, hopefully.
In other Everton news, Dyche has made a new admission surrounding the January transfer window at Goodison Park.