Vitalii Mykolenko set for spell on sidelines after what just happened at Everton
Vitalii Mykolenko could be the biggest loser from Everton’s defeat to Sunderland in the FA Cup.
The third round tie finished 1-1 after extra time, but Everton missed all three of their penalties in the shootout to exit the competition.
James Garner, who had scored from the spot in normal time, Thierno Barry and Beto all had their efforts saved by Robin Roefs.
However, there was at least one positive to take for David Moyes as one of the players on the fringes of the Toffees squad showed why he should be starting more games.
Adam Aznou proves David Moyes very wrong
Everton signed Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich over the summer, but the left-back is yet to feature in the Premier League for the Merseyside outfit.
The defender has been restricted to appearances for the Under-21s, with Moyes not convinced by his physicality levels.
However, Aznou came off the bench against Sunderland and was exceptional in his first appearance for the senior side.
Just three minutes after being introduced, with the Toffees 1-0 down, the 19-year-old won a penalty to help draw Everton level and take the game to extra time.
Aznou shone in the extra 30 minutes, proving himself to be a real creative spark for the Blues, and giving Moyes a big decision to make going forward.
Vitalii Mykolenko’s starting spot at risk
Mykolenko has struggled for form this season, and with the emergence of Aznou, he could be set for a spell out of the starting lineup.
While Aznou was deployed as a winger against Sunderland, he has played the majority of his career as a left-back.
With his performance off the bench against the Black Cats, he has made it clear that he is ready to feature in the Premier League.
Mykolenko rarely gives Everton anything going forward, recording just three assists across all competitions in the four years he has spent on Merseyside.
Aznou’s attacking abilities could become a useful weapon for Moyes in the Premier League, and he surely must now be afforded a run in the team.