Season › 2017-18 › News
Funes Mori poised for Everton recall
Ramiro Funes Mori credits mental resilience and family support for helping him through his long absence with a serious knee injury.
The Argentine defender is finally closing on a return to Everton's match-day squad following two surgeries to correct a meniscus tear he suffered on international duty 10 months ago.
Having come through two outings with the Under-23s and trained with the first team for the last few weeks, Funes Mori is ready to battle for a place in the starting XI as he bids to prove he is worthy of a place in his country's squad for the World Cup this summer.
“It's difficult, being iÂnjured for a long time,” he said in The Mirror. “It's tough but I had support from my Âfamily and I'm very strong mentally.
“I'm very happy to be fully fit, and I'm Âlooking Âforward to joining the team.
“It's difficult when you're injured and a new manager comes in,” he continued in reference to Sam Allardyce who succeeded Ronald Koeman as Everton boss last November.
“It's tough because you want to show what you can give to the team and to the club.
“But he knows every player, I think he has given opportunities to every injured player that's come back so I am waiting for that opportunity also.
“Of course I'm thinking about the World Cup but I'll have to play for Everton in order to do that.
“I'm just happy to have recovered from the injury but I need to be fit to prove that I can play.”
Funes Mori's prospects of working his way back into the side will, no doubt, be enhanced by the fact that he is a rarity in the Everton squad — a naturally left-footed defender.
Eliaquim Mangala, signed on loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day to add another option on the left side of defence, made just two starts before picking up a knee problem that could sideline him for the rest of the season.
Reader Comments (23)
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2 Posted 28/02/2018 at 08:01:16
3 Posted 28/02/2018 at 08:05:46
4 Posted 28/02/2018 at 08:06:24
I really hope he comes back a better player than I re-call. Like many, his reputation tends to increase when he's not playing. But I kind of like him.
5 Posted 28/02/2018 at 08:41:10
Give Funes Mori his due, he is the one defender we have that attacks corners and set pieces pretty well.
6 Posted 28/02/2018 at 09:29:52
I imagine you're correct, but given the extra work a left back has to do in getting up and down the wing, I'd be worried that he'd be injured inside the first half of his first start.
Quite often, players suffer hamstring injuries when coming back from a knee injury, I'd assume he'd be less likely to do this playing at left center-back than at left-back.
Personally, I'd like to see him partner Holgate in defense until the end of the season, with Martina or Baines at left back and Seamus or Kenny at right back.
I've given up on the hope that Garbutt will get a game ahead of Martina!
7 Posted 28/02/2018 at 09:47:47
8 Posted 28/02/2018 at 10:31:19
9 Posted 28/02/2018 at 11:25:13
10 Posted 28/02/2018 at 12:31:51
11 Posted 28/02/2018 at 12:39:20
12 Posted 28/02/2018 at 12:55:33
Once they start playing and understanding each other as a unit, hopefully it will shore up the leaky defence.
Just hope his operation allows him to clear the ball farther than his usual 20 yards.
13 Posted 28/02/2018 at 12:57:21
14 Posted 28/02/2018 at 14:26:21
These are players who we sorely need to keep us in the Premier League. Now, if we can only get a manager who can motivate the rest of those who need a kick up their rear ends, we can dare to hope next season.
15 Posted 28/02/2018 at 15:44:50
16 Posted 28/02/2018 at 16:56:28
17 Posted 28/02/2018 at 17:23:42
18 Posted 28/02/2018 at 20:59:54
19 Posted 28/02/2018 at 00:15:52
Ajay (#9), even at his advanced age, Jagielka is still a much better player than this guy. And Browning won't be back... he's been dropped for poor form by a Sunderland side that's about to be relegated again. He'll be free transferred to a League One side somewhere.
And Eric (#15), you and Passarella are on the same island by yourselves in thinking Funes Mori's flimsy, undistinguished Argentina record (6 yellows in 10 World Cup Qualifiers!) has earned him Messi's armband.
20 Posted 01/03/2018 at 00:21:43
Argentina's defensively are moribund that's the only reason he gets a game.
Might sell well though because he's a good age, and has a good personal brand.
Bye bye, Funes Mori.
21 Posted 01/03/2018 at 14:52:44
22 Posted 01/03/2018 at 16:35:45
23 Posted 04/03/2018 at 05:09:51
Williams must have fancied a day off.
Brian Murray [#10] Made me laf.
Walsh is being paid a reported £1 million and he can't find a left footed left back. Ha ha. I don't get to watch a lot but I reckon two weeks watching every Premier League game and Championship game and I reckon I'd have a short list of six and two crackers. ٣ the bunch.
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1 Posted 28/02/2018 at 07:22:30
For God's sake Allardyce, use him! No more farting around with over-the-hill Williams and Co. He could just be the saviour of our defence for the remainder of the season.