Vitaliy Mykolenko injury: Sean Dyche issues update ahead of Everton vs Brentford

Vitaliy Mykolenko is unlikely to feature in Everton’s Premier League clash with Brentford (Reuters)

Sean Dyche has confirmed that Vitaliy Mykolenko is ‘unlikely’ to feature in Everton’s Premier League clash against Brentford on Saturday.

The Ukraine international suffered a nasty ankle injury during the first half of Everton’s 2-0 win over Liverpool at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening but, remarkably, was able to continue until half time.

Mykolenko was replaced by Ashley Young at the break and was then spotted on crutches after Everton’s victory.

Everton face a tight turnaround ahead of their next Premier League fixture against Brentford in Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off and Dyche expects Mykolenko to miss the game.

‘Mykolenko is unlikely,’ Dyche said at his press conference on Thursday afternoon.

‘We’ll see how that settles, he needs a scan on that to know the truth of it but it’s not great early signs.

‘We’ll see how quickly that settles.’

Vitaliy Mykolenko was forced off with an ankle injury in Everton’s 2-0 win over Liverpool (AP)

Dyche also revealed that Calvert-Lewin has been struggling with an illness but still managed to deliver a man-of-the-match display in the win over Liverpool.

‘I thought he was excellent,’ Dyche said.

‘He has had a bit of illness, we are hopeful that will pass. He had it before the game, so we must commend him on that because I thought he was outstanding. His physical performance was outstanding, and he’s still not quite over it, so we will hope that settles down over the next day or two.

‘This season he hasn’t been too bad on the injury front, but it just goes to show you when you have had an indifferent couple of years with injuries, it does take time to clear your mind of it, clear your body of it, and to have that total freedom.

‘That’s what I and him planned when we shared the idea of getting him to a point where he can just play freely. He has had moments where he has done that, and last night I thought he was outstanding. I said to him afterwards, ‘That’s the kind of form and performance that gets you back around that England thinking’.

‘It’s too early yet and I am not making big bold statements, I know Gareth [Southgate] will have players who he thinks are relevant to his group, but certainly with that feeling to his performance and scoring, then he should be recognised where he is as a top centre forward, in my opinion.’

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