Everton: Yerry Mina injury and Lucas Digne fallout could open the doors for £18 million man

Mason Holgate has slipped down the pecking order in Everton defence

The fallout with Digne and the calf injury to Mina paves the way for Holgate. The former Barnsley man has been under firing and has slipped down the pecking order as a result of a string of poor displays.

However, in the game against Arsenal, the Englishman bounced back with a strong performance alongside Michael Keane. Coming on for Mina in the 31st minute, Holgate looked in control and maintained his tempo throughout the game. He did commit a couple of mistakes in the second half but Everton managed to survive such scares and emerged victorious in the game.

Defensively, he was robust, winning nine aerial duels out of ten, miles ahead of Takehiro Tomiyasu who had won the second highest aerial duels (five) that evening. The 25 year old made four recoveries and an important interception. Holgate also won ten ground duels, made four clearances and managed 18 passes to complete a well rounded display.

If Digne is dropped and his future remains up in the air, Godfrey will slot into the left back role. With Mina injured, Holgate could be handed a golden opportunity to win back the support of the fans and impress Benitez.

The Englishman was seen as a hearty defender with outstanding abilities, some even labeling him as the next ‘John Stones’ because of the Barnsley connection but over the last season, his confidence has diminished. This is a tailor-made opportunity for the defender to rack up solid performances and regain his confidence. If he fails to do so, he could soon be seen as expendable.

Will Mason Holgate step up for Everton?