Sean Dyche has spoken with Yerry Mina about his role at Everton as the defender continues his battle to get into the line-up.
Mina is one of six recognised centre-backs in the senior squad and, just over a month into Dyche’s reign, is the only one not to have been given minutes by the new manager. The 28-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, has been fit enough to make the matchday squads, however.
Whether the Colombia international will get one last opportunity to show what he can bring to the team remains unclear but Dyche and his coaching team have discussed his situation.
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Mina has made the matchday squad for each of Dyche’s six games in charge of Everton but has remained on the bench on every occasion. This is despite changes made to the starting line-up - particularly the breaking up of the Conor Coady and James Tarkowski centre-back pairing that remained a key feature of the side under former boss Frank Lampard. Coady was replaced by Michael Keane for the away match against Arsenal, Dyche explaining the decision as being down to managing players during a three-game week. Keane then retained his place for the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Under Lampard, Mina appeared to be deemed as the main back-up to Coady and Tarkowski when fit. He started in place of Coady - and scored - in the Boxing Day defeat to Wolves. Coady was unavailable that day due to the opposition being his parent club and returned for the following match at Manchester City. Mina had started the season in the starting XI but picked up an injury in the opening game against Chelsea that essentially ruled him out until the World Cup break.
Under Dyche, Keane, Coady and Tarkowski have had stints at centre-back while Ben Godfrey has played full-back on both sides. Mason Holgate was given the second half at the Emirates, though he was tasked with a centre-midfield role.
While Mina has repeatedly struggled with injury since joining the Blues, he has been fit since Dyche's arrival. In the manager’s six games so far, Everton have picked up seven points and conceded 10 goals, keeping two clean sheets. And asked whether he had spoken with Mina about what he needed to do to get into the team, Dyche said: “Myself and my staff have had chats with all of the players here, currently.”
Mina may be hoping his path follows that of Demarai Gray's. The winger had struggled for minutes under Dyche across the first five games of his tenure and the boss repeatedly stressed discussions were ongoing between the player and the coaching team about what he needed to do to get into the side. Gray started on Sunday against Forest and scored in a generally impressive performance, suggesting Dyche is willing to work with players and provide opportunities if he thinks they are deserved.
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