Yerry Mina: Pundit fears ‘huge’ behind-the-scenes blow after ‘speaking to people at Everton’
Alan Hutton has insisted Yerry Mina will be a “huge” loss from the Everton dressing room after being ruled out for two months through injury.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the 27-year-old would be sorely missed both on and off the pitch.
As confirmed by Frank Lampard on Friday (11 February), Mina could miss 10 weeks after suffering a quad injury.
The Colombia international looks set to be ruled out for at least seven more games based on Lampard’s update.
Hutton was at Goodison Park to watch Everton’s 3-0 win over Leeds United.
Having spoken to people at the club, he suggested Mina’s absence would be a big blow behind the scenes.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “By all accounts, speaking to some people at Everton in the stadium and stuff, he’s a huge character within the dressing room. He’s a real force within that team.
“So you lose not just his performances on the pitch but you lose that (influence) off the pitch as well. Mina being alone, injured, it’s not ideal.
“I think in Keane and Holgate, they’ve got a partnership there that can do good things. If they concentrate and if you get two good full-backs alongside you, it can be a good thing as well.
“That’s an area Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, who’s helping the defence, will look definitely to strengthen.”
Mina has played 11 times across all competitions for Everton this season.
He missed a handful of games with other muscle problems between October and January.
In other news, Football Insider’s injury expert delivers the lowdown on Mina’s injury blow.