Mason Holgate has told the Liverpool Echo that Everton should cope against Southampton on Saturday despite manager Frank Lampard losing Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina to injuries.
Lampard will be without his two centre-halves at St Mary’s after Godfrey tore his hamstring during the Toffees’ FA Cup win over Brentford. The £20m defender is likely out until March, while Mina later suffered a high-grade quadriceps tendon injury against Newcastle United.
Mina has avoided surgery, but Lampard wants Everton to take every precaution given his previous injury record. The Colombian and Godfrey’s absences will now leave Holgate and Michael Keane as the Merseysiders’ only natural centre-backs available on the south coast.
Holgate and Keane started Everton’s last Premier League fixture as Lampard oversaw a first top-flight win in charge against Leeds. The former Chelsea boss also picked the pair to start with Mina at Newcastle in his initially favoured 3-4-3. He will likely now stick with a 4-4-2.
Holgate expects Everton to cope despite ‘sad’ Mina and Godfrey injuries
Leeds represented Holgate’s 66th Premier League appearance for Everton with Keane also on the pitch, with Southampton likely outing 67. The 25-year-old does not expect Lampard will have any issues with the partnership producing the goods again away to the Saints.
“I’ve played a lot of games with Keano now and I like playing alongside Mike,” Holgate said. “I think all four of us can play with any of the others – it’s not like there’s a certain partnership that doesn’t work. I think we all complement each other in different ways.”
Holgate does admit Lampard losing Mina and Godfrey through injuries is disappointing for Everton. But the defender adds injuries are why the Blues have four centre-backs. Noting:
“It’s sad news for the squad and it’s not great that Ben and Yerry are injured. But that’s part of football and part of the season and one of the reasons the squad is so big. If people get injured, then everyone has to be ready, and I’m pretty sure Michael and I will be fine.”
While Holgate has made 66 Premier League outings for Everton with Keane, he has played 34 times with Godfrey and 34 times with Mina. The Blues have also conceded 80 goals with the Doncaster-born star beside Keane, 40 next to Godfrey and 39 with Mina on the pitch.
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