Michael Ball has warned Yerry Mina that his horrific injury record since joining Everton from Barcelona could come back to haunt the defender, via his Liverpool Echo column.
The Toffees signed the Colombian from the Blaugrana in Marco Silva and Marcel Brands’ first window in charge in 2018. They paid the La Liga giants £27m for his transfer, while handing Mina a £120k-a-week contract that makes him the top-earner at Goodison Park.
But injuries have plagued Mina’s time in England from day one. The 27-year-old missed the first eight Premier League games of 2018/19 with a foot issue that set the tone for his stay.
Mina would miss further games in his debut Everton campaign with another foot injury and a hamstring complaint. In total, he played 13 times – starting 10 – to 18 fixtures sat out.
Silva and his successor, Carlo Ancelotti, could call on Mina more regularly in year two, with the centre-half playing 29 times. But he still missed eight games with various problems.
Last season seemed set to be Mina’s best at Everton for injuries, having made each squad from game one to 23. But he would then only make seven of the remaining 15, playing five.
Mina’s sorry record with injuries at Everton has again risen it’s head this term, too. Rafa Benitez was without the centre-back for six games due to a hamstring injury from October and saw Mina sustain a calf issue 31-minutes into his return against Arsenal on Monday.
Reports by TuttoMercatoWEB claim Everton fear Mina faces yet another lengthy injury lay off now. Adding yet further Premier League games to the 39 that he has already sat out.
Ball issues Mina warning amid latest Everton injury
Former Everton defender Ball warns Mina that his horrific record with injuries could haunt him if the centre-half cannot prove he can offer the Toffees a regular option on his return.
“I was pleased to see Mina back, I think we’ve missed him,” Ball wrote. “But again, it’s the same issue that seems to have dogged him ever since he came to the club.
“He’s a big boy, but he’s coming off with niggles and obviously it’s hugely frustrating for both the player himself and the manager. It could hurt him going forward in terms of contract offers because since he signed for us, how many games has he actually played?
“When he does play, he’s our best centre-half but he’s not getting on the pitch enough for my liking. We want as many of our best players out there and fighting for the cause in this difficult and busy period. But yet again, he’s picked up an injury.”
Mina has featured in 73 of 129 possible Premier League games so far since joining Everton from Barcelona in 2018. He has also started 64, scored five goals and registered one assist.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
