“SHOCKING EXIT! Everton Superstar’s Career in JEOPARDY After DEVASTATING MRI Uncovers CATASTROPHIC Injury – Fans in TEARS!”

Everton’s choice not to bring in defensive reinforcements on deadline day has quickly come back to haunt them, with the situation at the Hill Dickinson Stadium now looking increasingly fragile just days after the transfer window closed.

Vitalii Mykolenko returned from injury in the Carabao Cup clash with Mansfield Town last week and then completed 90 minutes in the 3-2 Premier League win over Wolves.

However, Everton have since been rocked by the news that the Ukrainian international faces another spell on the sidelines.

David Moyes has already been hampered by fitness problems across his backline, with Jarrad Branthwaite currently unavailable and Nathan Patterson also in recovery.

The club did attempt a late move for Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell on deadline day, but the left-back instead sealed a transfer to Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Adam Aznou made his comeback with Everton’s development squad on Tuesday night and may now be fast-tracked into first-team action, given the lack of options.

Seamus Coleman is available again, but at 36 and with his injury history, he cannot realistically be expected to feature consistently.

The manager’s defensive depth has been so stretched that James Garner has already been forced to fill in at the back in two matches this season.

At present, Moyes can only rely on three fully fit defenders, an alarming position so early in the campaign.

Mykolenko had travelled to join Ukraine for the international break, but on Wednesday, 3 September, Zorya Londonsk reported that an MRI confirmed fresh damage.

The 26-year-old was subsequently pictured leaving the national camp and will return to England for further assessment.

This latest blow leaves Everton facing a defensive crisis less than a month into the season.

If Aznou is not deemed ready to start after the international break, Garner may once again have to step into the backline. Any further setback would leave the Toffees in an even deeper predicament.

The decision not to secure another defender in the summer window now looks especially costly.

While Everton had made encouraging progress in other areas of recruitment, this gamble threatens to undermine the rest of their strong transfer business.