Everton are waiting on the fitness of Vitalii Mykolenko ahead of their return to action at Hull City on Sunday, October 11, after the left-back was ruled out of a second consecutive Ukraine match. The 27-year-old, capped 55 times for his country, played the full 90 minutes of Ukraine's 1-0 UEFA Nations League B win over Hungary in Budapest's Puskas Arena last Friday but was then omitted for the goalless draw in Georgia on Monday with what was reported as a minor knock, his absence described as a precautionary measure.
Ukraine without Mykolenko for Slovakia clash
Ukraine now 'host' Northern Ireland on Friday, although the war following the Russian invasion of their homeland means the game is taking place in Trnava, Slovakia, but the Everton player will not take part. Ukrainian news outlet UNN report national team coach Andrea Maldara as saying: "Unfortunately, we cannot count on Mykolenko, he is not feeling very well. We do not want him to suffer an even more serious injury."
Mykolenko, who made his international debut in a goalless draw in Turkey on November 20, 2018, while still at Dynamo Kyiv, has turned out 166 times for Everton since joining for an undisclosed fee understood to be £17million on New Year's Day 2022. He has made 34 or more appearances for the Blues in each of his four full seasons on Merseyside.
Cover options for Moyes
The left-back has played every minute of Everton's seven matches in all competitions so far this season and, along with Ainsley Maitland-Niles (right-back) and Thierno Barry (striker), is one of three players in the squad who is the only recognised option for David Moyes in his position. Alternatives in the role should Mykolenko remain unavailable include England international pair centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who was restricted to just 10 outings in 2025/26 due to hamstring injuries, and the club's reigning Player of the Season, midfielder James Garner, as both were deployed in that area at times during the previous campaign.
Moyes has been boosted by the return to midfield of summer signing Christian Norgaard. The arrival from Arsenal could play in any behind-closed-doors game the Blues have planned for the international break.
Armstrong promoted to England U21s
Meanwhile, Harrison Armstrong has been promoted into the England Under-21s squad, alongside Liverpool's Trey Nyoni, after Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) and Lewis Miley (Newcastle United) withdrew. The midfielder becomes the third Everton player in Lee Carsley's squad along with Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George.
The U21s, managed by former Blues midfielder Carsley, host Slovakia in Stoke on Friday before travelling to Cork to take on Republic of Ireland on Tuesday. Armstrong has played in England U20s' opening two matches of the international break.
