Vitalii Mykolenko injury mystery continues as new Everton images emerge
Everton have still not confirmed the extent of Vitalii Mykolenko’s injury.
Mykolenko missed Everton’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa after leaving the Ukraine national team during the international break.
Mykolenko has proved to be Everton’s best weapon against Mohamed Salah in the past, so it would be a major blow if he was missing against Liverpool on Saturday.
Everton have not had much to shout about at Anfield in recent years, and if they are missing their first-choice left-back, then David Moyes has a selection dilemma.
Vitalii Mykolenko not pictured in Everton training
Merlin Rohl made an impressive cameo for Everton against Villa, and he took part in training ahead of the clash with Arne Slot’s side.
The Blues released images from training at Finch Farm on 18 September, featuring the likes of Jordan Pickford, Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling.
In the selection of 30 photos from the session, Mykolenko was nowhere to be seen, which means his injury mystery continues, as there has been limited communication about his status.
Speaking ahead of the Villa clash, Moyes said: “Vitalii is around it. We need to see if he’s going to make it or not.
“Hopefully, he might be OK. He felt something in the game vs Wolves.
“He felt he was fine to go with Ukraine and go with them, but once he got there, he felt it maybe wasn’t quite right, so he came away.”
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James Garner may have to stand in again for Everton
Garner has excelled in a makeshift left-back role, having featured there in the opening two matches and then the draw with the Villans.
He may have the unenviable task of keeping up with Salah and stopping the Reds’ danger man from harming the Toffees’ goal in the contest.
- Mykolenko missed the loss against Leeds and the win against Brighton in the league
- Returned for the Carabao Cup win over Mansfield and the league victory over Wolves
- Sent home from the Ukraine camp in the international break, then missed the Villa draw
If Mykolenko is out of the Anfield clash, then the Englishman will likely be trusted to step in again, and reinforce his status as the backup in the position when needed.
Perhaps Moyes will provide an update on the injury situation in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Merseyside derby, but until then, Evertonians are none the wiser as to Mykolenko’s condition.
It could all just be a bluff, and photographers may have been instructed not to take any images of the 26-year-old.
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