Frank Lampard admits Everton have sorely missed Yerry Mina during the defender’s injury-enforced absence as it caused a ‘difficult’ period at Goodison Park, via the Blues’ website.
Mina has been unavailable for selection since the Toffees lost at Newcastle United in early February with a quadriceps issue. He suffered a high-grade tendon injury at St James’ Park, but it did not need surgery. Although it followed prior hamstring and calf injuries this term.
His spate of fitness problems has held the 27-year-old to making just 11 appearances in all competitions this season. Just 10 of his outings have been in Premier League fixtures, too, including just one under Lampard since he replaced Rafa Benitez at the helm in January.
Newcastle marked Lampard’s first top-flight fixture as Everton manager and started Mina on Tyneside. However, his injury arose just 35 minutes into the Blues’ 3-1 loss, with Mason Holgate and Michael Keane then establishing themselves as Lampard’s first-choice pairing.
Keane and Holgate have been unable to protect Jordan Pickford’s net as much as Lampard will have hoped, though. Everton have conceded nine goals in four games with both in the line-up. The Blues also lost 1-0 to Wolves with Holgate, Ben Godfrey and Jonjoe Kenny.
Frank Lampard admits Yerry Mina blow’s been ‘big miss’ in ‘crucial’ Everton role
Mina is now nearing a return from injury, but he will not feature when Everton visit West Ham United on Sunday. Lampard expects the Colombian to feature at some stage in April, with meetings with Burnley, Manchester United, Leicester City and Liverpool to follow.
“Yerry should be, hopefully, back with us within the next couple of weeks,” Lampard said. “He is a big player for us – an international player, a player of stature, a player with personality, a big personality in the dressing room.
“I knew that from before I came, and I know that from being here now. Unfortunately, I’ve not had much on-pitch time to work with him. If you miss a player of that level, particularly in an area of the pitch where you want stability at centre-back, then it’s difficult.
“They bring you not just quality, but the right competition and they drive the team. In our position, centre-back is a crucial area. He’s been a big miss and when he does come back, it’ll be a big bonus for us.”
Everton visit West Ham without Mina through injury and without a Premier League win on the road since August. The Toffees won 2-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion after a 2-2 draw at Leeds United. They have since lost nine of 11, including each of their last four away days.
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