Greg O’Keeffe has been speaking on the All Together Now podcast about what he’s been told concerning Yerry Mina’s influence behind the scenes at Everton.
The Toffees have been without their top centre back for a large chunk of this season as Yerry Mina has so far missed 20 league games through injury with the most recent time spent on the sideline seeing him be absent for the majority of Lampard’s tenure at Goodison Park.
Should Everton sell Mina?
Yes!
No!
Everton certainly have a much better record when Mina, who is valued at £18 million (as per Transfermarkt), is on the pitch with the Toffees picking up 1.50 points per match when Mina is on the pitch, which is the most out of any player that’s started at least three matches (FBRef).
O’Keeffe has now revealed that Mina’s impact stretches much further than just on the pitch with several people telling him how influential the defender is in the dressing room.
(14:25) “He’s a momentous player and everyone in the back four and the goalkeeper as well play better when Mina is in the side, it’s his reading of the game, obviously, it’s his physicality and his size and his aggressive ball-winning in the air that’s the main thing and good on the ball.
That infectious enthusiasm and probably, you know a bit of positivity to his teammates, we keep hearing about how great of a teammate he is and how well-liked he is.”
TIF Thoughts on Mina…
There have been times in the past where O’Keeffe has called on Everton to cut their losses with Mina this summer because of his injury record and inability to remain fit having missed 43 games since he joined the club back in 2018, but he appears to have swiftly changed his tune now.
While Mina’s injury record is far from ideal, the fact that since his return to the starting lineup under Lampard Everton are yet to lose a game, so his influence is clear and would be worth keeping around, especially if he’s popular in the dressing room as well.
In other news: ‘I watched him’ – Everton journalist reveals worrying thing he spotted at Goodison