Marco Silva has refused to rule Yerry Mina out of Everton’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday after the defender was forced off with a knee problem against Watford. Mina was replaced after 41 minutes of the Toffees’ 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth-round win at Goodison Park on Tuesday after appearing to tweak his right knee when playing a short pass.
The Colombia international, who earlier on Tuesday was called up for his country’s friendlies against Peru and Ecuador in November, was unable carry on for the second consecutive match.
Mina had missed Everton’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Saturday with a knee issue he sustained against West Ham, but was passed fit to face Watford.
Mina, who was replaced by Michael Keane, disappeared straight down the tunnel to be assessed by the Everton medical team and that left Silva to face some difficult questions after the final whistle.
Everton faced criticism over their handling of Jean-Phillipe Gbamin, who suffered a setback on his return from injury earlier this month, but the Portuguese coach says the club did not rush Mina back too soon. “Before the game he was completely OK,” said Silva. “When we changed close to half-time he was in pain in that moment. When I spoke to him at the end of the game did was walking and did not feel pain any more. So it is a little strange. “He had some pain disturbing him but we hope he will be OK in the next day or two.”
Second-half goals from Mason Holgate and Richarlison secured Everton’s place in the hat for the quarter-finals, but Premier League points are a priority and Silva needs Mina fit to face Spurs. “It’s too early to say to you about that,” he replied, when asked if Mina was out of the next match.
Everton only have three senior centre-halves in the squad – Mina, Keane and Holgate – after Chelsea blocked their bid for Kurt Zouma in the summer transfer window.
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