Yerry Mina has vowed to keep on improving after netting his first Everton goal - and the Club’s landmark 7000th in top-flight games.
Colombia international Mina headed home a Bernard cross to open the scoring just two minutes in to the Blues’ convincing 5-1 win at Burnley on Boxing Day - the Club’s biggest victory away in the league since September 1985.
Mina’s effort saw Everton become the first English club to reach the 7000-goal milestone, with another first to follow on Saturday when the Toffees run out for their 4,500th top division match against Brighton and Hove Albion.
“I am so proud to score such a significant goal for the Football Club,” said Mina. “For me, personally, it was a special goal but it is also a celebration of all the famous names who have scored for this great team.
“To be the first club to reach 7000 goals demonstrates what I knew when I arrived here - that it is an important club with a big history.”
Mina’s header opened the way for three Everton goals in a pulsating opening 22 minutes at Turf Moor, with Lucas Digne also netting a sublime free-kick and Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring from the spot after Ben Mee handled in the box.
Ben Gibson reduced the deficit for Burnley before the break but Digne struck again from distance with 19 minutes remaining, before substitute Richarlison craftily beat Hart in injury time to make it a best ever Premier League away win for the Blues.
“I am really happy with my goal, it came at a really good time,” said Mina. “But I was even happier that it helped contribute to an important win.
“It was really good to start the game on the front foot but even better the team found a togetherness that meant we could play the football that we want to.
“It is that type of football that Marco Silva wants from us so it was fantastic to start the way we did.
“The team was hurt by the Tottenham result but this was a new game, we prepared for the match well and that showed in the performance.”
Mina was recalled to the starting line-up for the trip to Lancashire having sat out the defeat against Tottenham three days earlier.
He found himself in a back three alongside Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma and believes the trio are well suited to the formation.
Colombia international Mina headed home a Bernard cross to open the scoring just two minutes in to the Blues’ convincing 5-1 win at Burnley on Boxing Day - the Club’s biggest victory away in the league since September 1985.
Mina’s effort saw Everton become the first English club to reach the 7000-goal milestone, with another first to follow on Saturday when the Toffees run out for their 4,500th top division match against Brighton and Hove Albion.
“I am so proud to score such a significant goal for the Football Club,” said Mina. “For me, personally, it was a special goal but it is also a celebration of all the famous names who have scored for this great team.
“To be the first club to reach 7000 goals demonstrates what I knew when I arrived here - that it is an important club with a big history.”
Mina’s header opened the way for three Everton goals in a pulsating opening 22 minutes at Turf Moor, with Lucas Digne also netting a sublime free-kick and Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring from the spot after Ben Mee handled in the box.
Ben Gibson reduced the deficit for Burnley before the break but Digne struck again from distance with 19 minutes remaining, before substitute Richarlison craftily beat Hart in injury time to make it a best ever Premier League away win for the Blues.
“I am really happy with my goal, it came at a really good time,” said Mina. “But I was even happier that it helped contribute to an important win.
“It was really good to start the game on the front foot but even better the team found a togetherness that meant we could play the football that we want to.
“It is that type of football that Marco Silva wants from us so it was fantastic to start the way we did.
“The team was hurt by the Tottenham result but this was a new game, we prepared for the match well and that showed in the performance.”
Mina was recalled to the starting line-up for the trip to Lancashire having sat out the defeat against Tottenham three days earlier.
He found himself in a back three alongside Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma and believes the trio are well suited to the formation.
Having spent more seasons in the English top-flight than any other club, Everton now head to the south coast on Saturday to take on Brighton and extend their record tally of games to 4,500 – 334 more than closest rivals Arsenal and Liverpool (currently both 4115).
“I really like to play with Michael and Kurt, they are really good players,” added Mina.
“We wanted the clean sheet against Burnley and, unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that. But it is what we want in every game.
“Every day we are learning from each other and improving together. We are always playing alongside each other in training and that is helping us become better as a back three.
“The win [against Burnley] will give us confidence and, though there are no easy games in this league, we will be looking forward to Brighton.”
