Branthwaite out for 2 months as Evertonians fear the worst

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The Daily Mail is claiming that Jarrad Branthwaite’s season is over and his World Cup hopes have been dashed after a scan revealed the extent of his hamstring injury.

Everton's brilliant young defender was shoved off the field and fell awkwardly onto the pitchside track in yet another blatant foul by a Liverpool player that of course went unpunished near the end of normal time in Sunday's derby game.

Perhaps he tried to recover his position too quickly and with too much effort to get back on the pitch but it was obvious when he grasped his thigh and grimaced in pain that the worst possible scenario was indeed playing out before 49,000 Evertonians inside the Hill Dickinson Stadium. After a long delay for assessment on the pitch, the clearly distraught Branthwaite was stretched off before the game resumed.

It is claimed that the problem is not as bad as first feared, but it seems certain that Branthwaite is facing at least 2 months on the sidelines with the hope that he will have recovered sufficiently to play a full part in pre-season training from July onwards.

Branthwaite missed the first half of the season because of a long-running hamstring issue and underwent surgery in October. The new injury is in the same leg but not thought to be in exactly the same area, providing hope that he will not need another 5 or 6 months on the sidelines.

It is a huge blow for Everton and must mean that any hopes of Europe are even fainter now than they were at the weekend when Blues looked forward with huge anticipation to a rare opportunity for victory in the first Merseyside derby to be staged at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

But it's an even bigger personal blow for the young defender who had been doing very well through a carefully managed recovery and match-play programme following that last surgery, putting paid to any lingering hopes that he could perhaps catch the eye of Thomas Tuchel before the final England squad is named for this summer's World Cup Finals in North America.

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Reader Comments (42)

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Kevin Molloy 2 Posted 21/04/2026 at 15:34:18

2 months? I'll snap their hands off if it's just two months.

Paul Hewitt 3 Posted 21/04/2026 at 15:41:34

The medical team need to sort this problem for Branthwaite out.

It can't keep happening.

Shaun Parker 4 Posted 21/04/2026 at 15:45:41

2 months is better than I expected. I thought we were going to see another 6 months.

Would anyone take John Stones on a free this summer? I think he's still a good player and only 31.

Ian Bennett 5 Posted 21/04/2026 at 15:49:26

The problem with this type of injury is it just keeps recurring due to the scar tissue. It will always be a weakness in all probability.

He might be done as a 90-minute player.

Paul Hewitt 6 Posted 21/04/2026 at 15:52:20

I'm sure when footballers drank, smoked fags, and ate crap, they didn't get injured as much as modern footballers.

Darren Hind 7 Posted 21/04/2026 at 16:03:04

It's getting toward the end of April.

If he's out for two months... he's out for four.

John Collins 8 Posted 21/04/2026 at 16:07:42

A good rest, followed by the best specialist in Europe to get him right.

He’s a £100M player if he stays fit. He’s got the lot.

Les Callan 10 Posted 21/04/2026 at 16:39:36

Reminds me of Ian Snodin this.

Martin Reppion 11 Posted 21/04/2026 at 16:48:09

You must be around my age, Les.Snods was never the same as this sort of injury can cost you a little pace.

It is worrying to know how we plan not knowing who will be fit. However, what matters most is a strong last 5 games. If we can finish strongly, we will be a more attractive proposition for our target players.

Talking of Snods. How long is it since a player of that pedigree was given a straight choice of signing for us or the anti-christ and chose Blue?

Tony Abrahams 12 Posted 21/04/2026 at 17:16:33

It’s a running game, it’s a jumping game, it’s a fast game, it’s a game full of twisting and turning.

Hopefully Jarod, gets to the bottom of his hamstring problems because he’s a terrific young defender who has genuinely got a bit of everything.

Calm and clever, aware, assertive and assured, I’d spend whatever it takes to get this kid treated by the best in the business and hope they can find a way to help him get it properly sorted out🤞

Tony Abrahams 13 Posted 21/04/2026 at 17:19:08

His pedigree was Doncaster Rovers, and he wasn’t good enough to hold down the position he was signed to play, although he did have a lot of bad luck when he got here Martin!

Mike Gaynes 14 Posted 21/04/2026 at 17:30:03

Shaun #4, Stones is 32 next month and is making £250k a week at Man City.

And over the last three seasons he has missed more games to injury than he has appeared in. He's not even a part-timer at this point, just an occasional cameo.

No thanks.

Anthony O'Sullivan 15 Posted 21/04/2026 at 17:51:00

I'd give Keano another year. He barely put a foot wrong all season. But we do need to start moving Jake in to centre-back too.

The all too obvious two full/backs and a striker need to be bought.

So we'll get 4 central midfielders.

Bill Hawker 16 Posted 21/04/2026 at 18:04:33

Two months? Let's hope it's only two months. Will give him plenty of time to recover before next season.

Re-signing Keane is a no-brainer as another backup.

Liam Mogan 17 Posted 21/04/2026 at 18:38:22

We need to sign about 10 players this summer.

Then hardly play any of them all year... like this season.

Dale Self 18 Posted 21/04/2026 at 19:55:35

Apparently, Liam is possesed by Pat Kelly ;)

Mike Gaynes 19 Posted 21/04/2026 at 20:15:13

Dale, when Liam and Pat were doing their stage duo act on the Forum, the place was standing room only.

Pat's decision to go into the priesthood was a tragic loss for our entertainment level.

Mark Murphy 20 Posted 21/04/2026 at 20:51:37

“I'm sure when footballers drank, smoked fags, and ate crap, they didn't get injured as much as modern footballers.”

So, where's Jack Grealish these days, Paul?

Tom Bowers 21 Posted 21/04/2026 at 20:55:14

Arguably the best centre-back since Brian Labone and he's become a sick note this season.

The bad luck probably handed RS all 3 points and older fans have seen it all before.

It's time for the club to look to next season and, if Moyes is still here, then one hopes he has some idea of who to keep and who to discard.

With the Hammers on deck and desperate for points, it could finally spell the end of any Euro hopes.

Everton have a core of young players who have yet to impress enough to be considered as starters for next season but one could say they haven't been given much match time by Moyes.

Personally I think we are still lacking in the personnel good enough to control midfield against many teams and of course up front has been woeful despite the recent goals from Beto.

We started off with a poor result against Leeds (a team battling relegation all season) but then squeaking by Wolves, a team that is now relegated probably gave warning signs the squad still needed strengthening.

Maybe a lot of points were lost due to mistakes by Moyes who has yet to prove he is a top class manager.

Christy Ring 22 Posted 21/04/2026 at 20:57:13

The Daily Mail says two months, Alex Crook on TeamTalk says one month, and Bobble says he's to see a specialist to see if he needs surgery?

It would be nice if the club could give us an update?

Mark Wynne 23 Posted 21/04/2026 at 21:02:12

World Cup? If he'd gone -- and that is a huge “if” -- he'd have done nothing more than run around in a bib in training and kept the bench warm.

If Stones makes the squad, then there is no chance Branthwaite would have.

Christy Ring 24 Posted 21/04/2026 at 21:19:13

Tuchel is praising Stones highly, and has him pencilled in for a place in the England squad.

That is unbelievable, considering he's only played 7 Premier League games this season, and some want him here next season?

John Collins 26 Posted 21/04/2026 at 22:44:18

I'm hoping we have stopped being a retirement home for former players, Christy.

Dale Self 27 Posted 21/04/2026 at 23:46:49

Mike 19, to be honest, I think I was too grumpy defending Dyche in those desperate days to fully appreciate that.

Although, I do remember a time or two when I thought of some of Liam's material, "damn it, that gets on my tits but I can't possibly challenge that punchline".

Jay Harris 28 Posted 22/04/2026 at 02:01:44

I really hope its not as serious as it looked but even so it would be a mistake for him to go to the World Cup.

Apparently there is some Serbian doctor who has got a reputation for bringing hamstring Injuries back quickly and stronger by using some sort of placebo injection.

It is claimed he has had a lot of success with some top stars.

Eric Myles 29 Posted 22/04/2026 at 02:51:58

Jay, a placebo is a fake treatment so I hope he doesn't go there, our own medical team can give him a saline injection or some tic-tacs.

Paul Hewitt 30 Posted 22/04/2026 at 06:37:38

Mark @20.

I didn't say they never got injured. Just seemed it wasn't as regular as today's players.

Ian Bennett 31 Posted 22/04/2026 at 06:51:51

Two months is standard for a hamstring. I suspect Jarrad will be longer, due to past complications.

Hopefully he is back and fit for a full pre-season.

Mark Murphy 32 Posted 22/04/2026 at 06:57:10

Paul @30,

I was being facetious, mate.

Don't take me seriously.

Alan McGuffog 33 Posted 22/04/2026 at 08:44:41

Ian, I can't remember an injured player coming back "on schedule".

I'll be amazed and thankful is he is available in August. That of course doesn't allow for the inevitable "set-back" in his recovery.

So when the new season starts, I can see Tarkowski and Keane being partnered by Jake O'Brien at the back. Oh hang on… that would mean we'd have to get off our arses and buy a right-back though. Seamus..come on down!

John Williams 34 Posted 22/04/2026 at 10:01:57

Sadly, Jarrad's playing record since the start of the 2024-25 season is pretty glum, around 40 appearances, some as a sub, until last weekend.I suppose if we had paid millions for him, it would not be a great return.

Someone said players didn't seem to get injured as much years ago, but the pace of the game is a lot faster. That is the danger with hamstrings but, if players can hack today's game, they often can play well into their 30s still at the top level.

Ajay Gopal 35 Posted 22/04/2026 at 10:30:01

With Tarkowski showing signs of slowing down, and Jarrad Branthwaite unlikely to start the season (again), if Stones were available on a free and reasonable wages (~ £100k/week), we should go for him.

Having a 6-time Premier League winner on our books should rub off on the other players. Plus, we will need to sign at least 1 more centre-back.

Max Kilman has lost his way at West Ham, and is out of favour there. While that is partly due to his own performances, under the right manager and a new environment, no reason he cannot go back to being the player that West Ham paid £40M for. His market value today may be no more than £15-20M.

Stones, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Kilman, Tarkowski - is a decent centre-back group.

Mark Steers 36 Posted 22/04/2026 at 12:20:25

I've said this so many times: if Jordan Pickford had not played so well, we would be down there with Spurs.

Evertonians must be so blind watching this rubbish to say we've improved... Wow! I've not missed a game all season and I can't think of one game we totally dominated -- at a push, Burnley at home... but even then, we never looked like scoring any more than 2 goals.

Where Everton go from here... I don't know. We need at least 4 class players and I can't see this lot spending £200M.

I think we should do everything we can to get Glasner from Palace. He is top class, only ever talks about winning matches.

Then get in quickly to sign Harry Wilson, who scores and assists from right-wing -- an absolute must.

Then get a top right-back -- and then we might have some shape to our team.

Please, whoever is in charge, please buy a right-back, a bloody good right-back...! I mean a proper right-back!! Come on, stop this rubbish and sign a top right-back!!!

Mark Murphy 37 Posted 22/04/2026 at 12:33:28

Mark - I agree with all that! (I'd prefer Iraola but he's going to Spain; Glasner is next best for me).

Where are you planning to be pre-match this Saturday? It would be nice to meet up. (I'll leave my Seamus shirt at home.)

Mark Steers 38 Posted 22/04/2026 at 12:39:11

I park in a multi-story 10 minutes walk from the ground. So normally I stand just outside till about 2:30, then go in the stadium.

I will probably get my ticket off my mate today. I can let you know my seat number then. Remember, I'm 66 -- don't come attacking me!

Si Cooper 39 Posted 22/04/2026 at 14:08:51

Who here is offering an expert prognosis?

I can go on the internet and find decent data about young players who do just eventually shrug off persistent soft muscle injuries, so I'm hopeful that could apply to Jarrad, for another season at least.

I thought the challenge on him was actually fair (there were others on the day that were not given that seemed much worse to me) and it was either the unfortunate slip off the pitch or his scramble to regain his feet that likely caused the injury.

Would I have John Stones back? In a heartbeat if it's on a free and his wages are reasonable and tied to appearances. Would love him to be another Gareth Barry; released by City well before he stopped being good enough for them.

Mark Murphy 40 Posted 22/04/2026 at 14:15:15

Mark I'm 67,

Why would I attack you tho? Different feelings towards Seamus is no reason to fall out!

Block 118Row 17Seat 64

Grey-haired specky get.

Mark Steers 41 Posted 22/04/2026 at 14:29:42

Mark I put Ha ha on the end but they cut it off.

I will try catch up prob half time is best I think.

Alan J Thompson 42 Posted 22/04/2026 at 14:53:43

I don't remember who it was but a couple of years ago somebody said that a lot of these injuries occurred because of the warm-up exercises professional sportsmen went through.

Steve Waugh, former Australian cricket captain, said that he didn't know if there was any truth in it but he couldn't see any professional sportsmen stopping any warm-up exercises now.

Michael Kenrick 43 Posted 22/04/2026 at 14:58:48

Terse 'confirmation' from the club that Jarrad Branthwaite is out for the season:

Everton can confirm Jarrad Branthwaite sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday's Merseyside derby.

The injury is unrelated to the hamstring area which required surgery in October, with a scan confirming no procedure is needed this time around.

Branthwaite will now undergo rehabilitation at Finch Farm with Everton's medical team and is unlikely to feature again this season.

I suppose we should be grateful for that much... Did they ever tell us what was up with Charly Alcaraz?

Raymond Fox 44 Posted 22/04/2026 at 15:15:18

That sounds more optimistic than I thought it might be, its not the same injury which is a big plus.

He does seem to injure easily though, whether he can be toughened up, time will tell.