Mina ready to play against Brighton

Everton boss Marco Silva says Yerry Mina is ready to make his debut against Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues host Chris Hughton’s men at Goodison Park, and with Kurt Zouma unable to play against parent club Chelsea next week, fans had speculated that Silva could use tomorrow’s clash to bed in Mina, who has yet to play for the club since signing from Barcelona in the summer.

The Colombia international last played during the summer’s World Cup defeat to England on penalties, and although he is available to be given the nod on Saturday, Silva is unlikely to be drawn into the selection issues, instead preferring to field Mina in the friendly against Gor Mahia next week.

Talking in his pre-match press conference, Silva said:

It’s something you already know, some months ago, that Zouma won’t be able to play next week.

But our way to think is preparing the other players to play. Mina is ready to play if I make the decision.

It is the Brighton match, nothing more. We do not think about Chelsea. Our ambition and focus is on tomorrow’s match. The friendly match next week [against Gor Mahia] could be a good solution.