Everton wonder Stanley Mills to return from Oxford United loan in January after serious injury blow
Stanley Mills will return to Everton in January for rehabilitation treatment after he suffered a serious injury in Oxford United’s FA Cup clash against Coventry City, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The newspaper shared via its website on 7 January that Mills was stretchered off after falling awkwardly, and while the severity of the injury is yet to be shared, his season may now be over.
Mills had spent the first half of the season on loan with Oxford United, where he made 21 league appearances, scoring one goal and providing four assists, but now looks to have faced a severe setback.
Minor setbacks, major comebacks
Mills, who is the son of former England international Danny Mills, scored 14 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 21 appearances for Everton’s Under-21 side in the PL2 last season, a very impressive return for a midfielder as the team finished the season in eighth.
This was the springboard which allowed him to join League One promotion hopefuls Oxford United in an exciting loan move for the youngster, and his performances and regular appearances while on loan proved he could cut it at that level.
After impressing in League One for the first half of the season, it would have been a reasonable expectation for Mills to make the step up to the Championship in the next campaign – whether his loan club were promoted or not – but this setback may be damaging.
However, if he can make the most of his path to recovery, he could join a long list of players who have bounced back strongly from devastating injury blows and continue his rapid development towards top-level football.
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