Everton defence hit by injury

As the latest international break ends it has been a less than welcome one for Everton with defenders Lucas Digne and Yerry Mina both suffering injuries while on duty for their countries.

Although Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane enjoyed solid enough games as England romped past the Czech Republic and Montenegro, two of their Everton defensive colleagues have picked up injuries while away for France and Colombia respectively.

The possible loss of Digne and Mina for any length of time is a blow to the Blues as the team try to salvage something from this season and finish as high up in the Premier League table as possible.

Digne’s absence in particular is especially irritating. The French left-back has been outstanding for the Toffees in his first season at Goodison Park.

His energy, pace, solid defending and the quality of his crossing from the left-wing have been amongst the best features of the Blues entire campaign.

For his part, Mina has been constantly beset with minor injuries and this latest one is immensely frustrating for a player who has shown only fleetingly the power and defensive dominance that Everton fans expected to see.

He had returned to the side for the win against Chelsea and produced a solid enough performance in that game.

But it’s becoming worrying that the big Colombian is succumbing to so many injuries; is he going to turn out to be a busted flush? Let’s hope not.

Anyway Everton have got players in Leighton Baines and Kurt Zouma who can come into the team to deal with these absences. Hopefully neither injury will prove to be too serious or long-term.

On a more positive note as I said earlier, both Pickford and Keane played well enough in those two comfortable England wins although Keane was perhaps partly to blame for Montenegro’s goal in Podgorica.

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However he made amends getting on the score sheet with England’s equaliser as the Three Lions recovered from that unexpected goal and ran out 5-1 winners in the end.

It’s particularly pleasing to see Keane return to the national team after he had been out of the England side for a long period.

Keane has his detractors and he’s certainly not the most elegant or polished centre-back. But he has been generally solid and consistent for Everton so his re-call seemed well deserved.

Now the Blues return to Premier League action this weekend with a game away at West Ham on Saturday night.