“In the week I've been here I've realised he's a big leader in the group and a top player obviously for us, so a big miss."
That was the verdict of Frank Lampard just last week when asked for an update on Yerry Mina following his injury against Newcastle United.
Just weeks after returning to action, the centre-back limped off before half-time in the 3-1 defeat at St. James' Park.
The sight of Mina going off injured is one that has become far too familiar for Evertonians over the past couple of seasons.
On paper, the centre-back is the Blues' number one defender, as more often than not, the Colombian is sorely missed when not starting for his side.
He is a strong and resolute character. Always smiling, dancing and making his team-mates laugh, he is clearly a joy to have in the dressing room.
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And for all of the joking around, when it comes to game-time, he seems supremely focused on the task in hand. He boasts great qualities needed for a successful team with high spirit.
And a recent stat from Sky Sports showed how Everton have played in the last two years without Mina compared to the results with him in the side.
And it will come as no surprise that it’s a 57% win percentage with Mina in the team, which drops to 24% when he’s not.
However, there lies a huge problem with the 27-year-old - and that is getting him on the pitch on a regular basis. It's fast becoming a major issue for Everton.
So much so that if you put 50 Evertonians together in a room, 25 would go, 'yeah, he’s boss', and 25 would go, 'he’s a liability'.
Perhaps the word 'liability' is too strong, but when you consider the most matches Mina has played in a season for the Blues is 33, he is hardly the type of player you can rely on.
Which is why a report from South America today claiming that Brazilian Serie A club Flamengo have been offered the chance to sign Mina on loan makes interesting reading.
According to Torcedores, the deal would cost £1.6million, with the future purchase of the Colombia international another avenue Flamengo could explore at the conclusion of the initial loan.
The report goes on to claim they have until April 12 to finalise a deal, which is when the Brazilian transfer window slams shut, but that Mina is interested in the move.
On the face of it, and even though Mina is set for a spell on the sidelines, the idea of losing one of your best players makes no sense - especially for a club currently in a relegation fight.
Plus, Everton have lost enough of their better players over the last few years, and in many cases have never properly replaced them.
But when you think about it a bit harder, the prospect of losing Mina would certainly be nowhere near as catastrophic as losing Richarlison or Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
And one of the main reasons for this is game time.
Since Mina joined the club, he’s made 88 appearances, with the most he has made in one season being 33.
Last season he managed 29, while in his first campaign with the club he appeared on just 15 occasions, and so far this season he has played just 11 times.
In addition to this, Mina is also thought to be one of Everton’s highest-earning members of the club’s first-team squad.
And with Lampard desperately needing to overhaul his squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, a parting of the ways could be best for both parties.
Especially, as well, when you consider that Mina has less than 18 months remaining on his current contract.
Normally when one of Everton’s standout stars is entering such a stage concern from supporters begins to grow.
Concern that one of their best players could end up leaving the club for free - and further concern that the player in question will not be replaced.
But so far there has been nothing from Blues supporters to suggest they would be massively disappointed to see Mina depart.
In fact, a look on Twitter following the report from Torcedores would suggest that most Blues now see his departure as somewhat inevitable.
Lampard arrived at Everton knowing he had plenty of issues that he needed to address, however the future of Mina was probably not one of them.
And it still may not be, given it is still just speculation linking the defender with a move away at this moment in time.
But either way, you get that feeling that whether it be now, or in the summer, Lampard will soon face the conundrum of choosing what to do next with Mina.
