Key Everton defender likely out for rest of the season

With Everton days away from resuming their 2019-20 Premier League season after a coronavirus-enforced pause in play, another key player has been bitten by the injury bug.

Central defender Yerry Mina has torn a thigh muscle in training and will miss a few weeks, and with the season scheduled to be potentially completed by the end of July, that likely means the lanky Colombian is out for the rest of the season.

A statement released by the club just minutes ago provided more details.

Everton Football Club can confirm Yerry Mina is set to be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining a muscle injury.

A scan confirmed the Colombia international suffered a partial tear in his left quad muscle during training last week.

The 25-year-old is now in the early stages of his rehabilitation under the care of the Club’s medical staff and making good progress.

Just last week Jean-Philippe Gbamin was knocked out until at least the end of 2020 after sustaining a freak Achilles injury during training, when he was days away from making a comeback from an unrelated injury that has seen feature just twice this season.

Mina has been consistent in the middle of defence alongside youngster Mason Holgate, and has played 29 times this season, scoring twice. The 25-year-old had been on the bench in the last couple of games against Manchester United and Chelsea.

In his absence, the Blues will likely finish the season with Michael Keane next to Holgate, and a possible opportunity for a youngster or two to make the step up. Lewis Gibson, widely-tipped to be the next to make the first team squad is away on loan at Fleetwood Town, while Matthew Pennington is also out on loan at Hull City, but the Blues will have to cancel their loan spells to bring them back.

Another alternative - though likely unpopular among the fanbase - would be Cuco Martina who remains on the club’s books with a contract expiring at the end of this season.