Everton’s Mykolenko Faces New Injury Setback After Brief Return to Action

Fresh Injury Concerns for Everton’s Ukrainian Defender

Vitaliy Mykolenko has been forced to leave the Ukraine national team camp after making a brief return to action for Everton, where he featured in their Carabao Cup match against Mansfield Town and played a full 90 minutes in Everton’s 3-2 victory over Wolves.

Recent Return and Setback

The Ukrainian defender had only recently recovered from an injury that kept him out of Everton’s first two matches of the 2025/26 season. His return to action came in the Carabao Cup second round match against Mansfield, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Toffees.

Following an MRI scan that confirmed an injury sustained during club matches, Mykolenko has been forced to withdraw from Ukraine’s upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against France and Azerbaijan.

Impact on Everton’s Defence

The timing couldn’t be worse for Everton manager David Moyes, who is already grappling with injuries to several players, including Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson. The club’s decision not to sign a defender on deadline day has now come under intense scrutiny.

While Everton had attempted to strengthen their defensive options by pursuing Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell, who ultimately chose to move to Strasbourg, they may now need to rely on Adam Aznou, who recently returned from injury for the development side.

Looking Ahead

The situation has left Everton facing an injury crisis at the back, with James Garner expected to fill in should Aznou not be ready to start following the international break. The team’s depth will be severely tested, as any additional defensive injuries could leave the Toffees in a precarious position.