Everton have been handed a potentially significant injury concern after Vitaliy Mykolenko was reportedly allowed to train with Ukraine despite a leg problem that later required him to return to his club.
The left-back played the full 90 minutes of Ukraine's 1-0 victory over Hungary on 25 September but was subsequently absent against Georgia before leaving the national-team camp.
Ukraine confirmed that Mykolenko would miss their remaining October Nations League fixtures because of injury, although neither the national team nor Everton have publicly provided a detailed diagnosis.
Ukrainian journalist Ihor Burbas has now claimed an examination at Everton determined that Mykolenko should not have continued training with the injury.
Questions raised over Ukraine's handling of Mykolenko
Ukraine initially indicated that Mykolenko's problem was relatively minor.
Manager Andrea Maldera said the defender was not feeling right, before subsequent reports suggested the injury was more significant than first thought.
The Ukrainian Football Association later confirmed his departure from camp.
“Ukrainian national team defender Vitaliy Mykolenko will not help the national team in the October matches of the Nations League due to injury,” its statement said.
“The football player has already left the national team camp and went to recover at his club, Everton.”
Burbas has since questioned how Ukraine's medical staff handled the situation.
“I have questions for the national team’s medical staff,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“From what I hear, the situation regarding Mykolenko does not look very professional. He had leg pain. But after an assessment, the medics said there was nothing serious and allowed him to train.”
Everton examination reportedly found defender needed rest
According to Burbas, Mykolenko's condition worsened after he returned to training.
“He went out for the session, after which the pain intensified,” he said. “The player was then released to return to his club.”
Burbas claims the subsequent assessment at Everton reached a different conclusion.
“At the club, an examination revealed that he should not have been training in that condition at all. He needed to take a break.”
Those claims have not been confirmed by Everton or Ukraine's medical staff, so the suggestion that the original assessment amounted to a misdiagnosis remains based on Burbas' information.
Mykolenko absence could create problem for David Moyes
The immediate concern for Everton is how long Mykolenko could now be unavailable.
No return date has been provided, nor has the precise nature or severity of his leg injury been publicly confirmed.
Any prolonged absence could nevertheless present David Moyes with a selection problem because Mykolenko is currently the only specialist left-back in Everton's senior squad.
That makes confirmation of the defender's condition particularly important as the Toffees prepare to resume their domestic campaign.
Key Points
- Vitaliy Mykolenko returned to Everton early after suffering a leg problem on Ukraine duty.
- Ukraine confirmed he would miss their remaining October Nations League matches.
- Journalist Ihor Burbas claims Ukraine's medical staff initially cleared Mykolenko to train.
- Burbas says the defender's pain worsened before an Everton examination determined he should have been resting.
- Neither Everton nor Ukraine have publicly confirmed the precise diagnosis or a return date.
- Mykolenko is currently Everton's only specialist senior left-back.
What’s Next?
Everton will need to establish the severity of Mykolenko's injury before determining when he can return to action. Until the club provides a medical update, the length of any potential absence remains unclear, leaving Moyes facing uncertainty at left-back.
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