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Benitez's Everton New Boys Selection Poser

Rafa Benitez is waiting to decide on potential debuts for Everton new boys Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko in Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Hull City.

Full-backs Mykolenko and Patterson arrived either side of Sunday’s defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, with Benitez seeking a compelling reaction to that setback when his side tackle Championship opposition this weekend.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin started the Brighton fixture following toe and quadriceps problems but is unlikely to be risked at Hull as he navigates a return from four months on the sidelines.

Benitez is expecting a typically harum-scarum third-round contest against opponents that – like Everton – are lightly run of late.

Hull have played only once in the past 20 days and will be sighting an opportunity to bloody Premier League noses.

Overcome the fresh and fired-up hosts, says the manger, and the reward for Everton will go beyond a fourth-round berth, with victory feeding the confidence to breed more success and the winning mentality Benitez is trying to implement.

The Spaniard has made no decisions over team selection, with Calvert-Lewin joining Richarlison (calf), Andros Townsend (foot), Tom Davies (knee) and Yerry Mina on the sidelines.


“We have another session today and need to see how they [Patterson and Mykolenko] train,” said Benitez, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“Maybe one or both can start… but they had been 15 days without training, so we have to consider if they are fit enough for an important game like this.

"Both players have shown they want to do well and perform.

“If we have to play them, they can play, but in terms of fitness… we have to consider all the aspects.

“They are young full-backs, with energy and desire and passion and, hopefully, they can give us something right now.

“But we are not just thinking now, we are thinking about the future.

"If they come now and make an impact, I will be really pleased because we are in a difficult position in the table, but we expect they will be here for, maybe, 10 years and be key players like Seamus Coleman has been all this time.”

Benitez, a winner of domestic knockout competitions in England and Italy, was pressed on further potential incomings this month, in addition to the Club’s plans for left-back Lucas Digne.

On Frenchman Digne, who was an unused substitute against Brighton, Benitez said: “If on 31 January we finish the transfer window and he's here, okay, we do what we have to do. 

“At the moment, in his head, he has what he has and we have to deal with the players who want to be here.

“[He was in the squad for Brighton] because as a manager you have a responsibility to try to do what is best for the Club and sometimes you pay for that.”

Everton remain in the market for “good players who could be available and help the squad,” disclosed Benitez, who reiterated his stance over only pursuing acquisitions hungry to play for the Club and prepared to prioritise collective ambition over individual interests.

“I want to finish as high as possible and be sure Everton Football Club is growing and improving and creating a winning mentality for the future,” said Benitez.

“It will take some time but, in the meantime, we need players who really want to be here.”

Rafa Benitez
If they come now and make an impact, I will be really pleased because we are in a difficult position in the table, but we expect they will be here for, maybe, 10 years and be key players like Seamus Coleman has been all this time.


Benitez underlined the complexities of January trading, with clubs resistant to losing players mid-season.

With that in mind, he is concentrating on forthcoming matches, while “other people are working on names and possible negotiations”.

The immediate task is to oversee the beginning of Everton's attempt to win a sixth FA Cup.

“Every game is massive and I know how important the Cup is for the Club and our fans,” added Benitez.

“If we can do well in some games, we’ll have more confidence and it will be easier to approach the next games.

“We have experience of what it means for [lower league] teams to play against Premier League sides. It will be tough, for sure, but we are ready.

"I was pleased with the training session yesterday.

"The players were pushing and working hard. They realise after the Brighton game we have to perform and do well. Mentally, we are ready."