Marco Silva has explained how Yerry Mina has grown into one of the bedrocks of Everton’s defence.

Centre-back Mina joined Everton in August 2018 following a whirlwind seven months and was restricted to 10 Premier League starts in his debut Goodison Park campaign.

The Colombian has played every minute of Everton’s top-flight fixtures this term and, if he starts against Sheffield United on Saturday, will equal his longest run in the side since joining last year from Barcelona.

Mina’s first season on Merseyside was disrupted by a handful of minor injuries but he has confidently stepped into the middle of the Blues' back four at the outset of this campaign.

“I am pleased to see Mina [featuring regularly] – proud to see him taking this role and performing,” Silva told evertontv.

“He had a tough season last season.

“The competition was tough, all of our central defenders last season improved.

“Even Mina despite not playing so much.

“He tried to understand everything happening around him and had good moments.

“I cannot forget the good games he had – in top, top games he did really well.

“This season he is doing well, improving every time.

"And one of the things I really like – and we should all have it as a squad – is his desire to win.

“Every single day.

“Not just on matchday but here [at USM Finch Farm] every day.

“He came to the Club with the desire to improve and to win every time.

“Those are things I really appreciate in Mina.”

Mina signed for Everton directly after starring for his country in the World Cup finals in Russia.

The 24-year-old scored three goals in three games and conceded only one on Colombia’s run to a last-16 penalty shootout defeat by England.

He had left Brazilian club Palmeiras for Barcelona at the start of 2018 but quickly moved on to Everton after being denied the playing time he craved at the Nou Camp.

A foot injury forced Mina to wait until November at Chelsea for his start and the defender responded with a towering display in Everton’s 0-0 draw.

Mina began the next five games but because of those subsequent injury problems was unable to hit his stride and when he played on the final day at Tottenham Hotspur it marked the end of a six-match absence.

 
“When Mina moved to Barcelona he didn’t play as much as he wanted – at a top, top level,” said Silva.

“He joined Everton and everything had happened so fast.

“He was playing in Brazil, then in Spain at a top-level club.

“In the Premier League everything is completely different – everything was faster.

“The language, everything was different.

“Even if he did not play so much it was an important season for him.

“He had time to settle with some good moments and some not-so-good moments.

“In some important moments he was unfortunate with injuries.

“But he learned how things are in England and what was happening around him.

“He waited for his chance and he is getting it now and performing well. He has many, many things to improve, like always.

“But he is taking his role with the responsibility I like and with a big desire.

“It is fantastic to see.”

 
Mina was part of a backline which shut out Crystal Palace and Watford, as Everton claimed four points from their opening two games this term.

The Blues added another three points last time at Goodison despite Wolverhampton Wanderers scoring twice – becoming the first visitors to net on Everton’s home ground in 549 minutes of action.

Silva’s side was nevertheless unable to repair the damage of goals conceded in their past two away games, at Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

The manager, then, is eyeing a performance against Sheffield United full of the focus and aggression which saw Everton record 10 clean sheets in 13 games before last month’s trip to Villa.

“We have to keep working on our organisation,” added Silva, whose side will be seeking a seventh successive home win when they face the newly-promoted Blades.

“In some moments, it is a matter of switching on, remaining focused for 95 minutes.

“It comes more from your mentality than anything else.

“We work on it as a team every week because it is part of our way and our philosophy.

“[Last week’s loss at Bournemouth] was a big frustration for us, starting with myself, and for our players and our fans.

“Because we are together in this fight.

“Our supporters have played a key role in this form at Goodison and on Saturday they will play with us and can have a key role again

“We had 13 games with 10 clean sheets and started this season with two clean sheets.

“It is up to us to regroup and analyse – which we have already – to keep going and working hard.

“It is up to us to do the same things as before or, if we can, do them even better.”