Jarrad Branthwaite returns to the grass at Finch Farm

Jarrad Branthwaite's last appearance, against Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 19 April 2026

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Jarrad Branthwaite showed signs of making good progress in recovery from his latest hamstring injury nightmare when he participated in various training drills and physical tests with other players returning to Finch Farm for the first day of pre-season training yesterday.

There is no doubt the club view Branthwaite as the bedrock of our future, which made last season's heartbreak all the more difficult to stomach. A devastating hamstring injury on the eve of the campaign kept him out until late January.

When he finally returned, he transformed the side, spearheading a brilliant run of form that dragged Everton into the European conversation. Yet, in typical Everton fashion, his cruel injury against Liverpool in the first derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium left the team bereft of its quiet and unassuming fulcrum, precipitating a horrendous collapse in form over the final seven matches of the season, leaving us to wonder what might have been as a golden opportunity slipped through our fingers.

But his resilience to ward off injuries remains a concern, with many voices claiming that his recent seasons show he cannot be relied upon to form part of a consistent core for the team going forward. Such injuries are problematic, and the path to full recovery is often long and arduous, with the risk that permanent damage has been done, or that some inherent vulnerability increases the likelihood for recurrence.

More's the pity considering how very diligent the club had been in bringing him back slowly and carefully from the first hamstring problem last season.... only for the latest problem to develop when the player overreached and slid onto the pitchside path, in obvious pain 3 months ago.

The crucial test will come in those seven pre-season friendlies, when we get to see just how much he is allowed to play as the team works up toward the new season.

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

John Collins 2 Posted 11/07/2026 at 13:37:38

If he stays fit. Can anyone name a better left-sided centre-back in the Premier League?

I wouldn't swap him for any other in the Premier League.

Alan J Thompson 3 Posted 11/07/2026 at 14:27:34

Seven warm up friendlies in a short space of time should see if there is long term damage.

Christy Ring 4 Posted 11/07/2026 at 14:45:35

Rumours he's our new captain wearing no.4, good decision.

Ajay Gopal 5 Posted 11/07/2026 at 14:49:30

Good to see that Moyes is also back from his World Cup talk show duties.

Branthwaite looks fit (knock on wood). And most of the squad except Ndiaye and Pickford seem to be back at Finch Farm.

John Collins 6 Posted 11/07/2026 at 14:52:47

I reckon we have done OK in the market in his absence though. Rohl George Hackney. All steps in the right direction imo. Again imo, Armstrong will turn out to be the best of all of them.

Tony Abrahams 7 Posted 11/07/2026 at 15:16:25

I wouldn't swap him for any other defender, John, and just hope that Jarrad can stay injury-free next season.\

John Collins 8 Posted 11/07/2026 at 15:59:20

Just watching the rugby game at The Hill Dickinson.

There's a lad playing, 6-ft 8-in, 19 stone. Jumps about 9 foot in the air.

Commentators reckon Moysey pulled him over at half time, asked him could he play right-back.

Paul Hewitt 10 Posted 11/07/2026 at 17:22:32

I'd swap him for either Arsenal centre-back.

John Collins 11 Posted 11/07/2026 at 17:33:01

Even the right-sided one, Paul?

David West 12 Posted 11/07/2026 at 17:57:02

Big season for him, needs to prove he can be relied on, and not get labelled injury-prone. So good when he's fit, there's a reason Man Utd and others were interested.

It's typical Everton isn't it, unearth a gem for next to nothing, loan him out to a Champions League team, comes back playing amazing, £60 - 70M rumours, but signs a new deal and we can't keep him fit for longer than a few months.

Hope he sorts it out long-term, and can't bear to leave the club!

Tom Bowers 13 Posted 11/07/2026 at 19:06:26

Jacob Murphy. Really ???

Christy Ring 14 Posted 11/07/2026 at 19:23:10

A fit Branthwaite is probably the best left-sided centre-back in the Premier League.

I wouldn't swap him for anyone.

Andy Meighan 15 Posted 11/07/2026 at 19:46:07

John 2.

Absolutely spot on and for me, though I'd be gutted to see Ndiaye and Pickford move on, I'd be devastated to see Jarrad go.

John Collins 16 Posted 11/07/2026 at 20:18:15

A Rolls-Royce, Andy.

An added bonus is his passing ability, easy to see he played in midfield until his mid-teens.

Mike Powell 17 Posted 11/07/2026 at 21:32:24

I hope these Murphy rumours are bullshit

Minik Hansen 18 Posted 11/07/2026 at 00:30:11

Absolutely important timing of return, right at the start of preparation to pre-season, couldn’t wish for better than that for his return to recovery. All the best, Jarrad Branthwaite. 🤞

Paul Griffiths 19 Posted 12/07/2026 at 02:09:59

I don't actually think that Moyes left Lytham-St-Annes this summer. He just meanders upstairs to his home office to natter on Talkshite. He did not look good imo in yesterday's first-day-back video. Perhaps he had just flown in from LA? Don't think so.

Alan J Thompson 20 Posted 12/07/2026 at 05:34:39

The BBC say that this Jacob Murphy we are reported interested in is a 31 year old winger which is all we need unless it's to make signing Grealish look ordinary but whoever with that number of wingers we know which direction the Pickford hoof will go,

Paul(#19); Just flown in from LA, Luton Airport?

Stu Darlington 21 Posted 12/07/2026 at 08:56:46

David @12 Says it all really.

Tom Bowers 22 Posted 12/07/2026 at 11:22:22

We don't want another winger who cannot get starts at another club especially at 31.

We may get Grealish on loan again but not on the terms of last season.

George may be the answer but I think shedding a few others may come first.