Ben Dinnery

Sat 11 December 2021 8:00, UK

Rafael Benitez took a major “gamble” throwing Yerry Mina straight back into the Everton starting XI against Arsenal.

That is according to injury and fitness expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries website and has a background in medicine and data analysis.

Mina lasted just over half an hour on his comeback from a hamstring injury before being forced off against the Gunners on Monday (6 December).

As quoted by Dinnery last week (3 December), Benitez confirmed Mina was involved in “part of the training session” on Friday.

Dinnery suggested the centre-back would have only had one full training session prior to the Arsenal game.

As such, he insisted Benitez knew it was a risk starting the 27-year-old.

Dinnery told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “What we do know Everton played on the Monday.

“Yerry Mina had only taken part in aspects of first-team training on the Friday. You can assume the Sunday session was more tactical and that wouldn’t be full-on.

“So maybe at very best, Yerry Mina would have only had one full session in his legs.

“To throw him straight back in there in the cut and thrust of the Premier League, with Arsenal on a little bit of a high. Was it a risk? Certainly.

“A really good indication of how a player can cope and tolerate the demands of the game is looking at his history. We know that Yerry Mina is a player that tends to pick up quite a few injuries, unfortunately.

“In hindsight, it’s probably a gamble he wishes he hadn’t taken. Sometimes you have to roll the dice and it doesn’t go.

“I think Rafa, the pressure will have eased on him. He may not be so hasty to make these kind of decisions down the line.

“In the cold light of day, it was probably against his better judgement. He doesn’t leave any stone unturned.”

Mina has played seven times for Everton this season.

He missed six games due to his hamstring injury between October and November.

In other news, pundit claims Benitez to freeze Everton star out after confirmed news.