Whatever the severity of the injury that forced Orel Mangala out of Everton’s 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion, the midfielder will bounce back – past experiences of even greater traumas have taught us that. Reports from his native country have claimed the 26-year-old, whose exit from Saturday’s game at the Amex Stadium forced David Moyes’ men to finish the game with just 10 men having already used up all their allocated substitution slots, has torn the cruciate ligaments in his knee but the ECHO understands that Everton are still awaiting an official update from the medical team so any claims about the period the player could be sidelined for is just speculation at this stage.

Mangala, joined the Blues on a season-long loan from Olympique Lyonnais on transfer deadline day last summer – along with another now injured player Armando Broja from Chelsea – and has made 21 appearances this term, scoring once in the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 4. His absence would therefore leave a significant void in Everton’s midfield, although James Garner had earlier come off the bench against the Seagulls for his first appearance since the goalless draw against Newcastle United on October 5 while it’s hoped that Tim Iroegbunam, who also hasn’t featured since the Magpies stalemate, will not be far behind him.

An exclusive interview with the Belgium international at the club’s Finch Farm training complex back in November though has taught this correspondent that no matter the severity of his injury, he will have the mental strength to recover. Every face tells a story and that’s particularly true for Mangala who has been competing in world football’s toughest domestic competition despite a serious car accident almost costing him much more than an ability to play the game he loves.

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Anyone who glances at a photograph of him can see he still bears the scars of a traumatic incident that happened over a couple of decades ago, but when you’re up close to the midfielder and engaging in conversation with him, that’s not what you notice. The feature that stands out most with Mangala is his smile, that epitomises his cheery disposition but is perhaps also a sign of the confidence behind a steely determination to make it to the top.

Having been granted permission by him that he was happy to discuss his life-changing moment, the question was asked about what proved to be a pivotal step on his football journey. Mangala told the ECHO: “When I was two years old, I got hit by a car. They told me that I wouldn’t be able to walk again.

“I don’t really remember it, but I do recall that my father told me that they did training at home to teach me to walk again. Today, I can run again in the Premier League.”

That strength of character is epitomised by the player’s ‘Mangality’ account on social media, which relates to mindset and mentality with the goal being to inspire others. Mangala said: “It started when I was at Stuttgart, with my hashtag ‘Mangality’, it’s all about my personality, as someone who never gives up. It doesn’t matter how tough things are, I never give up, I always look forward and always think positively.

“That’s what I try to give to people who follow me, to my family and my friends. As a professional athlete, it’s really important for people to try and feel that inspiration.

“I want people to recognise themselves in me because not everything in life is easy and through my path, I want people to see that everything is possible. It doesn’t matter how hard it is, in the end you can achieve what you want and what you truly deserve.”

Although Mangala has been one of Everton’s new recruits, he was also aware of the magnitude of this being the club’s historic final season at Goodison Park and his determination to make that a special time for Blues shone through. He said: “I think we have a few months now to bring some real joy for the Everton fans. We will try to do it, no, we will do it!”