Yerry Mina arrived at Everton from Barcelona in the summer as Marco Silva built his first squad at the club.
Yerry Mina was a late signing for Everton in the summer – they only completed a deal for the Colombian on deadline day – and it’s certainly taken just as long for him to get into the side.
Injury and fitness kept Mina on the sidelines until earlier this month but his two completed games thus far suggest Everton have done good business.
And after seeing what he’s got, ex-Everton defender Alan Stubbs has outlined exactly why the 24-year-old is an ideal fit for Marco Silva’s playing style.
“He is big and imposing and understands how to apply those qualities,” Stubbs told Evertonfc.com. “And there is more of an onus on one-v-one defending in the Premier League now.
“The full-backs are very attacking, which means the ability to adapt defensively and defend positively in one-v-ones and two-v-twos is vital.
“Everton’s full-backs push into advanced positions and it is a real strength of the side. But your strengths in wide areas can become your weaknesses if the centre-backs are not strong and cannot cover when the full-backs are up the pitch.
“Mina is very good in those situations.”
It’s certainly great to hear an ex-Everton man talk so glowingly about Mina after the doubts that surrounded his arrival.
Mina struggled badly at Barcelona – so much so that they were more than happy to offload the player just six months after his arrival from Palmeiras.
Everton’s decision to pay up to €30 million for a player with such doubts was undoubtedly a brave move and one that could have left them looking very foolish.
Instead, however, his first few games suggest that they haven’t just got a talented defender but they’ve got the kind of defender they need.
And that is a great piece of business.
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