Is Yerry Mina worth the wait for Everton?

By Sam Preston

Yerry Mina has kept Everton fans waiting for their first glimpse of him in action after arriving at Goodison Park already injured.

Marco Silva’s struggles to find a defensive formula that works and the natural anticipation that grows when a player must wait to make his debut have hyped up the Colombian’s bow.

But will he be worth the wait? There is surely a danger that he has become a projection of what the fans hope he will be; a commanding, physical centre-half. The kind that the club has been waiting seasons for.

It’s a similar situation at Manchester United; the fans are so desperate for Eric Bailly to take command of their defence that he has been overhyped to a level he cannot match when he plays.

(Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

We all saw Mina at the World Cup and there were some impressive qualities; pace, aerial prowess and physicality.

But he has had no pre-season, an injury and must adjust to life in English football. He is coming into a team that still needs to do a lot of gelling.

Expectations must be tempered. Mina may prove to be the answer to Everton’s defensive issues, but fans must not get too excited – yet.