‘A lot more progress’: Frank Lampard thinks £32k-a-week Everton player can get so much better

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Frank Lampard believes that Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko is still improving and can still get so much better.

Lampard was speaking as a press conference after his side’s 0-0 draw with Fulham at the weekend, via the official club website.

Mykolenko has been ever-present in the Everton starting line-up this season, and has yet to miss a minute of football.

The young left-back arrived in January from Dynamo Kyiv and has immediately made a big impact.

Despite being only 23, Mykolenko has already earned 28 caps for Ukraine.

Lampard believes that Mykolenko can still get much better, and could really improve his attacking output.

The Ukrainian has yet to register a goal or assist this season, although Everton have lacked a target man for much of this campaign.

The return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin could really help Mykolenko in that sense given how dominant he can be in the air.

Mykolenko has former Wolves defender Ruben Vinagre for competition in the Everton squad, but he’s yet to make an impact since arriving in the summer.

It’s a testament to how good Mykolenko has been that Lampard hasn’t brought Vinagre on in his place once this season.

Mykolenko can get so much better – Lampard

Speaking after the game about his first-choice left-back, Lampard said: “Myko’s a young lad who has moved to the country, and there is so much going on [in Ukraine] as we well know.

“What he’s done in terms of how he’s handled himself, becoming a fixture in our team, is a real credit to him.

“I’m pleased with him and I think there’s more to come.

“He has had two very good games on the bounce (against Crystal Palace and Fulham).

“Defensively, he was very good on Saturday, with how he competed in the physical duels, blocking things and showing strength.

“We wanted to get him involved more in the game in an attacking sense. It didn’t quite work out for us but in the first half he got forward and delivered a few crosses, which I was happy with.

“I believe there is a lot more progress in Myko. He’s young and there’s a lot he can add to his game.”

The £32,000-a-week defender will spend the upcoming break with Lampard and his Everton squad with Ukraine not qualifying for the World Cup.

Several pundits believe that Calvert-Lewin hasn’t done enough to get into the England squad this month.

This could benefit Mykolenko, as he can work more closely with the forward to improve their relationship in attacking situations.

Everton’s defence has also been much improved this season, with the introduction of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski to the side.

They were all indebted to Jordan Pickford at the weekend though, who put in a sublime performance against Fulham.