Everton boss Frank Lampard has given an update on Yerry Mina’s injury situation and his chances of playing in the Premier League again this season.
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Yerry Mina has been told he won’t require surgery for the troubling injury which threatens his season.
Everton boss Frank Lampard has revealed the defender will work with the club’s medical team in an attempt to get to the bottom of a string of crippling repetitive injuries which have blighted his campaign.
The Colombia international has been ruled out until at least April, and with Ben Godfrey also sidelined until March at the earliest, Lampard has only two fit senior centre halves.
But Lampard has said the 27-year-old could return to action this season.
“No, Yerry didn’t [need surgery], and we hope that remains the same,” Lampard said.
“We’re working on the injury now, Yerry’s here working with our medical team to try and make some early strides in making sure he recovers.
“I know he’s had some repetitive kind of injuries, different injuries, but he’s had his issues. I think it’s really important we focus on this one to get it right.
“It won’t be surgery, it’ll be a lot of work behind-the-scenes. We’ll do our best to make sure he comes back hopefully preventing further injuries off the back of it.”
Lampard was also positive on Everton’s continuing search for a Sporting Director, with former Tottenham man Steve Hitchen one of the leading contenders.
The new Blues boss suggested that he is happy to work with a Director of Football, but wants an input into the choice, as Everton carry out a strategic review.
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“At the moment I’ve got a very good relationship with the chairman and the owner. I think it can be very good as long as each department within that hierarchy is aligned,” Lampard said ahead of Everton’s trip to Southampton on Saturday .
“That relationship between myself and a sporting director, it will be very important to know our roles and to work together for the good of the club.
“If you get that right it can be very good, and that’s why the club have to take time to get the right one.”
Lampard has spoken of the hunger in Everton’s squad ahead of the trip to St Mary’s.
“I have to make choices and we’ve been thinking about it all this week,” Lampard added.
“There’s an argument for going with the same again - we kind of felt similarly going into Newcastle and it didn’t quite work.
“All of the players have to feel through the week that they can find a way into the team, or if we have to change our approach for the opposition because, going from Leeds to Southampton, they two very good teams in lots of different ways.
“I’ll consider that as we go – and the good thing is we have got players who are playing well and we have got players who are hungry to get into the team.
“That’s exactly the environment that you want.”