Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite set to undergo surgery to fix hamstring complications | OneFootball

Everton have confirmed that Jarrad Branthwaite will undergo surgery following a complication in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old has yet to lace his boots for the Toffees this season, and his latest setback comes as a devastating blow to David Moyes’ side.

Branthwaite missed Everton’s final few games of last season with the same problem. After spending a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he finally returned to full first-team training.

He was getting close to making his long-awaited comeback before suffering another setback during a training session ahead of Everton’s trip to Manchester City.

In his absence, the Toffees fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium courtesy of a brace from Erling Braut Haaland, with Michael Keane stepping in to replace Branthwaite alongside James Tarkowski.

In their official statement, Everton confirmed that Branthwaite will also begin a “structured rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical team” after the operation.

Branthwaite has been a pillar of the Everton backline over the past couple of years, establishing a fantastic partnership with Tarkowski.

His outstanding talent and Tarkowski’s leadership made them a formidable pair, with the talented centre-back also earning a place in the England national team.

Everton have missed Branthwaite’s calmness, impeccable reading of the game, and well-timed tackles this season.

They have soldiered on in his absence so far, picking up 11 points from their opening eight games of the season.

But his absence leaves a gaping hole in the Everton backline, especially with the calibre of alternatives at Moyes’ disposal.

Branthwaite has been a target for a few Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United.

However, he pledged his allegiance to the Toffees over the summer, penning a new five-year contract to shut down any speculation about his long-term future.

Despite his injury woes, he’s still considered one of the finest young defenders in England, and there’s no doubt that conversations about his future will resurface once he’s back to full fitness.