Insider: Yerry Mina maybe out for longer than first feared after Everton twist
Yerry Mina’s latest injury setback may see him out for longer than first feared by Everton.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Mina has not featured in a competitive game since the opening day of the Premier League season but made his return against Celtic in the Sydney Super Cup last month (20 November).
Everton confirmed last week (24 November) that the 28-year-old had suffered a hamstring injury but could be back in training within three weeks.
“These games would have been seen as the ideal opportunity for players to transition from recovery and rehab back into non-competitive games with the hope of being ready for the Premier League,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“Now we know that season on season, Yerry Mina has really been struggling in terms of availability. We’re looking at around 40, 41 per cent availability in the league.
“His importance to that Toffees team cannot be understated. When he starts their points-per-game ratio and goals against compared to when he’s out is night and day.
“Ultimately, you are talking about a player now who is really, really struggling.
“Even when Everton and Frank Lampard are talking about a two to three week hamstring injury and it’s only minor, in the back of your mind your questioning, does Yerry Mina ever suffer from minor hamstring problems?
“It’s not just the three week injury. This period was an opportunity for that mini pre-season that could have made you bulletproof for the second half of the campaign. Having that heavily disrupted once again means he’s going to miss out.
“From that, you are looking at opportunities to try and get Yerry Mina to be ready to play Premier League football but with it being a highly congested period, it isn’t going to be easy.
“You’ll be trying to get that match sharpness in competitive play and almost becomes that vicious circle where players are maybe a bit undercooked and are thrust into action.”
In other news, Everton are set for an FA investigation after an Alexander Iwobi controversy.