Sean Dyche has been speaking about Jarrad Branthwaite’s return to fitness ahead of Everton’s game with Crystal Palace
Jarrad Branthwaite is “certainly” in contention to return to the Everton side against Crystal Palace on Saturday, for what would be his first appearance of 2024/25, claims manager Sean Dyche. Branthwaite, who was Everton’s breakthrough start of last season, hasn’t kicked a ball for the senior side since the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on May 19.
After that game, captain Seamus Coleman admitted “you can’t really hide talent like that for long,” and Everton went on to reject a brace of offers from Manchester United over the summer transfer window, knocking back bids of £35million plus add-ons and then £45million plus add-ons.
The Blues insisted early on that they would not be bullied into selling England international Branthwaite on the cheap with claims of a Goodison Park ‘fire sale’ wide of the mark and were always actively planning for him to be with them this season, unless a mega offer came in.
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Given the £80million fee that Man United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019, the £75million Chelsea paid for Wesley Fofana in 2022 and the £77million Manchester City paid for Josko Gvardiol in 2023, Everton consider Branthwaite to be in the same bracket, especially considering the premium for both left-footed defenders and homegrown talent.
The 22-year-old has been out with what Dyche previously described as “a minor groin issue” but ahead of the Carabao Cup tie against Southampton the Blues boss admitted: “Jarrad has been longer than we’d hoped for, but the body is a strange thing.”
However, after coming through the full 90 minutes of Everton Under-21s’ 4-3 victory over their Sunderland counterparts in Southport last Sunday, ‘The Carlisle Kaiser’ is now in contention to return.
Asked if Branthwaite is ready to start, Dyche said: “We’ll make a decision on that. His stats are good.
“We have training stats and measures from the past, so his stats have been good. So yeah, he’s certainly in the hat, in my thinking, without a doubt.”
In terms of the potential implications of Branthwaite returning and the player’s role within the group, Dyche added: “He played very well last season, and I mentioned all time that he’s still learning the depth of his role, but did super well last season, without a doubt, and played his part in what ended up, although an up and down season, a very successful season.
“Every manager ideally wants a strong backbone to their side, and I think they built that connection, particularly the two centre-halves, the keeper plays his part, but the two centre-halves worked hard, and he was one.
“I think that was there for all to see and the stats and facts back up what your eyes were telling you. I believe in my eyes and my staff’s eyes, quite obviously, but it’s good when it’s backed up in the stats and facts as well.”
