Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti appears to be thinking outside the box in an attempt to solve his centre-back problem with the Liverpool Echo reporting that forgotten man Cuco Martina has been thrust into a new role.
It’s fair to say the Toffees have been lacking both quantity and quality in the centre of defence this season.
And a problem position is once again causing headaches at Goodison Park, with Yerry Mina expected to miss the rest of the 2019/20 season thanks to the most ill-timed of injury blows.
As a result, Ancelotti has just Michael Keane and Mason Holgate at his disposal.
Given that Everton’s rather tight-knit squad will be stretched to it’s limit during a hamstring-tweaking run of nine games in a matter of weeks gets underway, the veteran tactician will have to be a little creative.
But does that mean Martina, a man who has spent the last two years out on loan, could be offered a fresh start on Merseyside?
The 30-year-old Curacao international has not played for the Toffees since a 2-1 defeat to Burnley in March 2018 during the ill-fated reign of Sam Allardyce.
But given that he is one of the few players in Ancelotti’s squad capable of filling in at centre-half, the versatile full-back could be back in contention.
The Liverpool Echo reports that Martina has played in an all-new role during Everton’s Project Re-start preparations.
Jarrad Branthwaite, a teenager signed from Carlisle United in January, could be another option at centre-half if Ancelotti wants to throw him in at the deep end.
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