Yerry Mina's quality in the air has placed among the top three defenders in the Premier League for defensive aerial duels so far this season, according to data from CIES Observatory.
The Colombia international has been one of Everton's preferred options in central defence throughout the course of 2020/21 so far, thanks in part to the toe injury suffered by Mason Holgate in pre-season.
The latter was back in the starting line-up at the expense of Mina for the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United shortly before the international break.
But Carlo Ancelotti selected the 26-year-old in each of Everton's other seven Premier League fixtures this term, and he has a goal to show for it against Brighton too.
That was scored via a header from a James Rodriguez free kick, but it's his work defensively that has caught the eye elsewhere.
Swiss researchers CIES Observatory have gathered the most successful players at defensive aerial duels in Europe so far throughout the course of 2020/21, and Mina is right up there.
In terms of Premier League players, the Blues man is third behind Chelsea's Kurt Zouma and Manchester United star Harry Maguire.
The Colombia international has won 86.2% of his defensive aerial duels this term, with Zouma on an impressive 96.3% and Maguire claiming 90%.
When looking at the figures for defenders across the big five leagues in Europe, Mina finds himself in seventh place thanks to his strong displays.
So, while the centre-back might have a battle on his hands to regain his place in the Everton side, he does have one aspect of his game that he achieves better than most in the Premier League.
