Everton should see Yerry Mina in action in the near future.
Everton may have been without new signing Yerry Mina against Fulham after suffering a stamp in training, but his eventual debut will present Marco Silva with the potential for a tactical switch.
The Toffees landed Silva in a big-money deal from Barcelona on deadline day in August, but they have still yet to see the Colombian World Cup star in action as he sat in the stands to watch the 3-0 win over the Cottagers on Saturday.
When Mina does finally become available for selection, Everton’s usual 4-2-3-1 system may be open to change, with the Daily Mail reporting back in July that Silva actually wants to play with a three-man defence at Everton.
Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma impressed against Fulham, with some fans wondering when Mina will get a kick for the club given his injury woe and the competition for places, but a tactical switch could open up a spot.
Mina would be able to play with Keane and Zouma in the heart of a three-man defence, giving Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne the ability to go forward from wing back, with Idrissa Gueye and currently-injured Andre Gomes in midfield, and Gylfi Sigurdsson potentially behind Richarlison and Theo Walcott.
That’s just one way that Everton could line up if Silva really does want to play a back three, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford appears to be interested in such a switch too, having played in a 3-5-2 for England.
Pickford has told the Liverpool Echo that he saw Silva playing a back three at Watford and would be open to the same switch at Everton, feeling that such a setup provides greater ability to build play from the back.
Mina’s imminent return opens up different possibilities for Silva, and after that rumour about a three-man defence being Silva’s preference, we may just get the chance to see it in action soon.
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