Carlo Ancelotti delivers remarks on Ben Godfrey amid Yerry Mina injury reports

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Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has branded new Toffees signing Ben Godfrey ‘a complete defender’, as he prepares his side to face Liverpool this weekend.

Saturday brings about the first Merseyside Derby of the season, and the game is highly anticipated with Everton top of the Premier League table and Liverpool having lost 7-2 against Aston Villa before the international break.

One man who is facing a race against time to be fit for the game is Yerry Mina, who took no part in Colombia’s World Cup qualifier against Chile.

Colombia’s official Twitter had suggested he’d been left out as a precaution, and Everton fans are hoping it is nothing too serious.

Should Mina fail to recover to face Liverpool, it’s likely Godfrey will be the man to replace him with Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthaite both still injured.

Speaking of the £25 million signing (BBC Sport), Ancelotti said (quoted by the Daily Star): “Godfrey is a a really talented player.

“He is really fast, very quick. He has different characteristics from the centre-backs we have in this moment. He is a complete defender, fast, good with his head and good with the ball. He has all the quality to be a really good centre-back.”

TBR’s View – Thrown in at the deep end?

Mina’s concerning injury record makes the possibility of him missing the Liverpool game a very real one.

It could be that Godfrey has no choice but to be thrown in.

The Reds may well be something of a wounded animal after their defeat to Villa, meaning Godfrey will need to be bring his A-game.

Potentially he could endear himself straight away to the fans with a solid debut performance.