Dyche might ditch Mykolenko for ‘glorious’ Finch Farm gem

Amid what has been one other poor begin to the marketing campaign for Everton – with only one level from their opening 5 Premier League video games – one situation that has been uncovered is the dearth of a top quality, first-choice choice at left-back.

In reality, these woes stretch again to the sale of Lucas Digne through the finish of Rafa Benitez’s time in cost again in January 2022, with the Frenchman transferring to Aston Villa after having racked up 26 targets and assists in 127 video games in all competitions for the Toffees.

In his absence, the Merseysiders turned to Ukrainian starlet Vitaliy Mykolenko to fill that void, though the previous Dynamo Kyiv has did not earn an everyday position within the facet of late, having made simply his first league look of the season towards Arsenal final trip.

The truth that supervisor Sean Dyche has favoured veteran asset Ashley Younger in that position, whereas Ben Godfrey has additionally been a makeshift choice in recent times, is a stark indication of the membership’s shortcomings in that division.

With that in thoughts, it could be time for the previous Burnley boss to contemplate seeking to the academy in an effort to discover a much-needed resolution in that position, with Mykolenko, specifically, having not been as much as scratch.

How a lot did Everton pay for Mykolenko?

It nonetheless stays a weird choice for the Everton board to have backed Benitez and his choice to half methods with Digne simply over 18 months in the past, just for the Spaniard himself to depart simply days later after receiving the sack.

The exit of the one-time Barcelona full-back ensured that the Merseysiders have been pressured to dip into the market late in that January window, with then-boss Frank Lampard snapping up Mykolenko for a reported price of round £17.9m.

The 24-year-old has since made 53 appearances in all competitions following that transfer from his homeland, albeit having been unable to copy Digne’s attacking risk, after scoring simply as soon as and offering no assists in that point.

These woes within the last third are additionally laid naked by the truth that the £58k-per-week asset ranks in simply the underside 5% amongst these in his place in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for progressive carries and in simply the underside 37% for move completion, showcasing his seemingly erratic nature in possession.

It’s not as if the 34-cap worldwide has fared significantly better in a defensive sense, rating within the prime 50% for aerial duels received and in solely the highest 39% for tackles made, whereas he additionally misplaced seven of his 12 floor duels towards the Gunners final trip.

Stats through Sofascore

The £13m-rated dud – who was additionally ‘tortured’ by Italy’s Nicolo Zaniolo whereas on worldwide obligation – could then must be correctly changed sooner somewhat than later, somewhat than counting on the ageing Younger and regular centre-back, Godfrey.

Who might exchange Mykolenko?

There aren’t precisely too many choices for Dyche to contemplate, with the Merseysiders having notably endured the frustration of dropping promising left-back expertise Ishe Samuels-Smith to Premier League rivals Chelsea over the summer season.

Having been included in The Guardian’s Subsequent Gen Listing for 2022, Samuels-Smith seemed set for a shiny future at Goodison and was even coaching with the primary staff final season, therefore the frustration at seeing the 17-year-old transfer on to Stamford Bridge.

With the Toffees having additionally allowed 22-year-old Frenchman, Niels Nkounkou to depart in January, there’s a distinct lack of depth in that division – significantly with former loanee Ruben Vinagre additionally now not on the membership.

That being mentioned, nonetheless, a attainable alternative for Mykolenko might have introduced itself within the type of academy star, Mackenzie Hunt, with the versatile gem having caught the attention at Finch Farm in latest instances.

Who’s Mackenzie Hunt?

It was not too way back that the 21-year-old was amongst those that seemed set for a departure heading into the 2022 summer season window, with the Englishman having been approaching the tip of his contract on the time.

Fortunately, so far as Dyche is anxious, the teenager was subsequently provided a contract extension in June of final yr, with the Toffees having made a clever transfer in maintaining the defender on the books – such has been his standout kind since then.

Whereas famous as an attacking midfielder by commerce, Hunt has slotted in at left-back predominantly over the previous yr or so, offering two targets and two assists in 23 video games in all competitions final time period as a marker of his want to get ahead from his defensive berth, not like Mykolenko.

As The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland famous, the promising machine additionally netted a “particular” strike for the U21’s within the pleasant conflict with Braga again in September 2022, producing a spectacular volley from simply outdoors the world on his left foot.

Whereas hampered by damage prior to now, Hunt appears to be again match and firing at current, having additionally obtained reward from youth coach Paul Tait for his show towards Doncaster Rovers within the latest EFL Trophy assembly:

“Macca [Hunt] was additionally glorious and he confirmed his versatility getting into at centre-back. He was actually good in possession.”

Though that show got here with the academy sensation lining up in a centre-back berth for a spell, the standard of his efficiency towards senior opposition could have caught the attention, as he notably received 16 duels on the day.

Simply as spectacular was his capacity to play out from the again – in distinction to the awkward Mykolenko – as he efficiently accomplished all six of his tried dribbles, in addition to successful three fouls as an indication of simply what a risk he will be in an attacking sense, as per Sofascore.

To have the ability to replicate such a efficiency at Premier League degree is a unique problem altogether – whereas Hunt is but to even make a senior look for the Toffees – though with Dyche having an apparent drawback at left-back, the Finch Farm prospect could possibly be the proper reply.