Everton’s injury woes, come to an end as Jarrad Branthwaite makes long-awaited return
Everton manager Sean Dyche has provided a much-needed boost to the club’s supporters as he announced that Jarrad Branthwaite will return to the squad for their upcoming match against Fulham. The 22-year-old defender has been sidelined for several weeks, having made only one appearance this season due to injury.
Branthwaite, who had a breakthrough season last year, earned international recognition, receiving his first England cap in June. However, he was the subject of interest from Manchester United over the summer, with two offers made for his services. Despite the bids, Everton decided to keep hold of the young defender, and it appears to be a decision that has paid off.
The promising youngster played a key role in Everton’s 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace in September, but was subsequently forced to miss matches against Newcastle and Ipswich due to injury. However, he has now fully recovered and is set to be included in the squad for the Fulham game.
The Toffees have a wealth of defensive talent, with four top-class centre-backs vying for a starting spot. The competition at the back has put pressure on players to perform, but manager Sean Dyche believes Branthwaite is ready to make an impact.
“He’s trained all week,” Dyche said. “I made a call on it last week, I decided not to go with him being fit, even for the squad, because I thought it was important for him to have a week’s training, a clear week’s training, which he has done, so he’ll certainly be part of the squad.”
Despite the upbeat news on the injury front, Dyche fielded questions about the club’s potential new ownership. The majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, has agreed to a takeover deal with the Friedkin Group, although none of their representatives have been to Goodison Park to meet with the club’s officials.
When asked if he had spoken to the prospective owners, Dyche replied, “Nope. I keep getting asked, but that hasn’t changed since last week, the week before that, the week before that, and the week before that.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership, Dyche remains focused on the task at hand, with the Toffees sitting 12th in the Premier League table. The return of Branthwaite provides a welcome boost, and with the defender set to return to the squad, Everton fans will be eager to see what impact he can make in the coming weeks.
