Massive blow: Hamstring injury for Jarrad Branthwaite | OneFootball

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This horrible news first appeared on social media, with The Bobble claiming that Jarrad Branthwaite had suffered a hamstring injury in training…  and later it was confirmed in The Mirror that Everton's star young centre-back would be missing for a vital run of games at the beginning of the new season.

This comes on the back of his absence from the Premier League Summer Series in the US and only adds to concerns about the player's resilience, or the wisdom of his recovery plan, with the new season now only days away.

It's a massive unwanted headache for David Moyes, who must have been hoping that prospects would be improving with the arrival of Kieran Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish to boost his threadbare squad. And it comes on the back of a groin injury for Vitaliy Mykolenko that threatens to sideline him for a number of games as the new season begins in earnest with Monday's trip to Elland Road.

Reader Comments (94)

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Liam Mogan 2 Posted 13/08/2025 at 16:58:44

Branthwaite picks up a lot of strain type injuries.

Christy Ring 3 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:12:24

Sam,

Where have you heard about Branthwaite injury, a huge set back, if true?

Rob Halligan 4 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:26:09

My ITK has not informed me of any injury to Branthwaite, and he’s normally quick on the ball about anything Jarrad.

He will probably tell me in the next few minutes or so, now!!

Ian Bennett 5 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:29:43

It's on the Bobble on X. Don't know if its legitimate.

Christy Ring 6 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:31:11

Rob,

Hope you hear nothing Rob, a good sign!

Brian Wilkinson 7 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:38:07

Bobble has tweeted hamstring injury for Branthwaite in training today, he is normally spot on.

Christy Ring 8 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:44:34

So if it’s true about Branthwaite, with O’Brien at fullback, Keane will start on Monday? Wasn’t he out for preseason with the same issue?

Sam Hoare 9 Posted 13/08/2025 at 17:56:36

This is one of the many reasons why we needed to prioritise a RB, because ideally it would be our 3rd choice CB (O’Brien) playing with Tarkowski instead of our 4th choice but he’s needed at RB instead.

Stuart Sharp 10 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:11:30

Exactly Sam. Our defensive options are worryingly limited.

Mike Doyle 11 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:17:43

Rob. Hope you are crouched behind that bush in Calderstones Park waiting for ITK to appear with an update.

Lee Courtliff 12 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:18:48

Patterson at RB????

Christy Ring 13 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:32:58

Lee, Patterson constantly injured, out again.

Colin Glassar 14 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:33:52

Shit. Fuck. Crap. Bollocks. Merde. Mierda. Scheisse. Ostia. Joder. Jesus H. Sodding hell. Bugger. FFS. Damn. Darn it, etc….. We are cursed!!!

Lee, I’d rather get Hibbo back

Jake FitzGerald 15 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:34:27

Good. Now they’ll have to get a proper RB in.

Rob Halligan 16 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:37:31

Mike, my ITK lives in Cumbria so I doubt he will appear in Caldies. 😂😂😂

Mike Gaynes 17 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:49:48

With Myko out also, seems like Seamus starts in Week 1. Either LB or RB.

Seamus/Tarks/Keane/Jake?Keane/Tarks/Jake/Seamus?

Colin Glassar 18 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:53:18

Garner O’Brien Tarkowski Anzou(?).

Jay Harris 19 Posted 13/08/2025 at 18:57:48

Jarred's injury record is starting to be worrying for such a young lad.

This is devastating news especially with Myko out for 6 weeks.

Brian Harrison 20 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:15:08

Hope if he has a hamstring injury its not to bad, and only out for weeks instead of months. Haven't heard anything about Mykolenko after coming off after a few minutes on Sat, lets hope he is ok and it was only a precaution. Should both be missing for the Leeds game then Seamus has to come in and play left back young Anzou isn't ready for the Premier league at the moment. Typical Everton we are all on a high after signing Grealish only to be kicked in the teeth by a possible injury to Branthwaite.

Mark Murphy 21 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:22:26

I think I know Robs in the know and so unless the bobble is also from Cumbria I’m hoping this is bollocks.

Colin Glassar 22 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:22:36

Rob 16, you have us all hanging on a thread waiting for your latest update.

Rob Halligan 23 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:26:10

Colin, no doubt he will let me know, but as yet, no word from him.

Clive Rogers 24 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:28:56

Moyes may go three at the back with Garner and either Anzou or McNeil as wingbacks and Keane coming in.

Mick O'Malley 25 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:30:32

Maybe McNiel could play left back if needed, Jarred does seem to pick up his fair share of injuries, if this is true its typical something pisses on our chips just as things were looking up, we need to sign a right fullback ASAP

Rob Halligan 26 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:32:26

This is no rumour…….Mansfield at home in the Carabao Cup

Joe McMahon 27 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:33:06

The Everton curse, injuries to key players days away from season starting. Incredible isn't it.

Jim Bennings 29 Posted 13/08/2025 at 19:45:53

Jarrad is starting to pick up a few niggly injuries now which may need looking at.

He missed the start of last season and end and now misses the start of the new one.

Michael Bennet 30 Posted 13/08/2025 at 20:09:01

Just seen on Twitter that Branthwaite has done his hamstring, God knows if its accurate but this journo has most thing right up to now, has anyone heard anything.

Ernie Baywood 31 Posted 13/08/2025 at 20:11:28

It's being reported on plenty of news sites.

Hoping it's not the quad again.

David West 32 Posted 13/08/2025 at 20:55:10

Shows how thin this squad is.

I've got more hair than this squads got depth I'm no jack grealish!

Hard to build depth over 1 window to be fair to Moyes.

There's depth, and then there's a squad full of shite overpaid mercenaries.

If we can get a few good loans, which usually come last minute of the window, a good RW& RB, weather this defensive injury issue, the window will be a success in my eyes. Hopefully, we are getting our injuries early and out the way.

9 PL teams dealing with European football this year, we could spring a surprise only playing once a week if we beef out the squad !

Liam Mogan 34 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:13:53

Just watching Spurs rolling over PSG. Well organised, fit and superb on set pieces.

Dave Abrahams 35 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:13:57

It's being reported in the Daily Mirror that Jarrad has suffered an injury, in training, in the right hamstring that will keep him out until the end of September.

The report is saying it's the same hamstring that he injured at the end of last season.

Dave Abrahams 36 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:16:04

Dennis (33) No, Dennis, definitely not a competitive first team game.

Jack Convery 37 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:18:25

Branthwaite 'injury' is hopefully a strain, if true. Thank God we kept Keane and given our full back situation, it's a good job we gave Seamus, another season too.

It could be a back 3 versus Leeds.

Liam Mogan 38 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:24:00

I'd probably say why didn't we replace Keane with a decent CB, rather than thank God he's still here, Jack!

Michael Bennet 39 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:24:31

He could be another John Stones, Tony — always something wrong with him.

Let's wait and see.

Sean Kelly 40 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:34:18

Fuck! I hope he's not out for long/

Bobby Mallon 41 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:47:19

6 to 8 weeks.

The 23-year-old is understood to have aggravated the same hamstring in his right thigh that saw him limp of in the final game at Goodison against Southampton in May.

It's never good when the same injury keeps happening

Tom Bowers 42 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:47:35

Wonderful injury news and the first game not yet played. No Branthwaite, no Mykolenko. What next?

Hopefully O'Brien, Tarkowski and Keane will hold the fort but it's at fullback where we may be weak. Garner may be utilized on the right but I am not sure yet about the new left back.

We will need big performances by the midfield to stymie the opposition as it's there where I see we have stuttered in the past. Hopefully the new blood there will settle in quickly.

Sean Kearns 43 Posted 13/08/2025 at 21:58:24

Cometh the hour, cometh the man!! Our Seamus can still hold down RB like prime Cafu! Big Jake to boss the back 4.. Adam at LB and hopefully plays so good he stays in the team

John Raftery 44 Posted 13/08/2025 at 22:08:57

Recurring hamstring injuries for such a young player suggests he may have an underlying bio-mechanical issue. If that isn’t addressed and resolved Jarrad will very likely continue to suffer this type of injury.

Colin Glassar 45 Posted 13/08/2025 at 22:12:18

At least for 30 minutes, Sean.

Paul Smith 46 Posted 13/08/2025 at 22:14:40

Should have cashed in ;)

Mike Gaynes 47 Posted 13/08/2025 at 22:21:02

I would be astonished to see Aznou in a back 4. He has started only eight top-level games at LB in his life. And lost 7 of the 8.

Maybe wingback in a back three, but even there Moyes is more likely to go with McNeil.

Brendan Fox 48 Posted 13/08/2025 at 22:29:50

Hopefully for Jarrad if the injury is confirmed is given the correct amount of time to recover from the injury and assessed correctly before being thrown back in the deep end.

Shit happens players get injured, the squad need to front up and other players in the squad need to step up and be counted.

Si Cooper 49 Posted 13/08/2025 at 22:55:45

Mike (47), not sure of the relevance of the number of previous games lost unless you are explicitly saying or merely speculating the losses were due to Anzou.I don’t actually disagree that it would be surprising to see Anzou starting in a back four, simply because of his youth and limited time at the club, but I also have reservations about Dwight McNeil in that specific set-up as well. Three at the back with wing-backs seems the most unlikely solution unless they’ve been planning for that for a while.Ah well, at least this defensive ‘crisis’ is a timely reminder to the recruitment team that it’s not yet appropriate to rest on their laurels.

Les Callan 50 Posted 13/08/2025 at 23:26:39

Branthwaite didn’t look right to me from the very first minute against Accrington. Something not right there.

Brendan Fox 51 Posted 13/08/2025 at 00:03:12

John @ 44 Deffo on to something regarding a possible bio mechanical issue considering the injuries he's suffered and the frequency he's suffered over the past couple of seasons

Nick Page 52 Posted 14/08/2025 at 00:30:26

Call the Witch Doctor.

Brendan McLaughlin 53 Posted 14/08/2025 at 00:35:42

Which Doctor...Nick?

Mark Taylor 54 Posted 14/08/2025 at 00:40:18

We all know and have done since the end of the season, we have big gaps at RW, RB and LB.

These positions needed filling first especially given Myko's injury and the fact that Patterson has almost certainly played his last match for us, given how little Moyes rates him (and he's probably right on that).

Grealish was a luxury when we really needed to focus on the essentials

Ryan Holroyd 55 Posted 14/08/2025 at 01:03:35

We signed a left back Mark

Eric Myles 56 Posted 14/08/2025 at 01:34:03

Paul #46, maybe that's the plan?

Ernie Baywood 57 Posted 14/08/2025 at 02:36:15

I feel like I go on about this a bit... but... as soon as DCL did his quad it was the start of a string of problems. For some reason, Everton couldn't see the long game and kept rushing him back.

I remember Jarrad being reported as having a "minor quad" injury and a few of us pointed out that there's no such thing as a "minor" quad injury. It wasn't his first either.

As someone who has had it, it's a prick of an injury. You never quite know when you're past it and it leads to all sorts of other niggles as you try to work around it.

I'm a bit concerned he's going to have an issue unless we give him a long rest and rehab.

Maybe he comes good, but a right back is now an absolute priority so that we can have Jake cover.

Jay Harris 58 Posted 14/08/2025 at 04:29:45

Personally speaking I haven't been impressed with Jake in the middle. While he does a fine job at RB.

I thought I would never hear myself say this but I would persist with Michael Keane for now.

LB is the real issue. It is apparent Anjou is not ready for the Prem yet so we shouldnt destroy his confidence. There is talk of Getting Zinchenko from Arsenal as he wants more game time. That wouldnt be a bad thing.

Mike Gaynes 59 Posted 14/08/2025 at 05:13:41

Jay, Zinchenko would be a bad thing. He is superb coming forward but an absolute disaster defensively. I would truly rather see Seamus there. But I agree with you about Jake -- he's better at RB than in the center, at least for now.

Si, just suggesting that he's not ready to be a starting LB in the Prem. And I don't think the recruitment team needs any reminders. Looks to me like they are operating at flank speed.

Danny O'Neill 60 Posted 14/08/2025 at 06:59:07

I know this happened during training, but I'm not sure risking him against Roma was a good idea in hindsight, although he looked fine.

Back at the end of last season, like most, with the addition of a right back and left back cover, the defence wood look okay.

Then Mykolenko goes down, now Branthwaite again and all of a sudden, we are looking light.

I'm not sure if the club will publish anything on the official website or we wait for Moyes' press conference to understand the severity. Trouble is, you can't rush a player back from a hamstring too early. It's going to be a month at least.

For the here and now, it will be patchwork quilt time. All that I can think is that if a back four, It would likely mean bringing Garner in at right back. I know he's played there and can play there, but I'm not too comfortable with that. Needs must I suppose. Then it's O'Brien and Tarkowski, with Keane playing makeshift left back. Sorry, that's all I can come up with.

Or, it's 3 at the back. Aznou might be worth a risk being higher up the pitch, he said himself, that he is better going forward. On the right? Maybe Garner. Again, I think he's played wide right midfield before.

Lots of unwelcome dilemmas for the manager to think about.

Ian Bennett 61 Posted 14/08/2025 at 07:02:39

If theres a positive, the window is still open and players are still available.

If youre playing O'brien at right back, you need another centre back. If hes deemed good enough to play centre back, then another right back needs to come in.

We cant be one more injury away than Aznou Keane Obrien and Patterson. Thats a shit defence that will get humped most weeks.

I was against Keane being re-signed, and now we will need to rely on him again. He might have scored some nice goals, played through the pain barrier and be a nice fella. But hes also a defensive liability that costs points. Sorry Mrs Keane.

The squad still shows we are still thin, and why we struggle most seasons. We might have a good starting 11, and perhaps one or two good subs. But its a squad game now, and you need 18-20 good players that can handle it. The drop off cant be too stark.

Robert Tressell 62 Posted 14/08/2025 at 07:15:23

Not ideal but not unforeseen. I’ve been patient but please get on with buying our 5 year overdue RB TFG - and get a spare while you’re at it.

Colin Glassar 63 Posted 14/08/2025 at 07:24:37

As we are not, apparently, producing any decent players in our so-called academy it means we are having to spend money buying bang average replacements.

40 years of decline have caught up with us.

David Bromwell 64 Posted 14/08/2025 at 07:25:40

We all knew we needed a right back and cover at left back, and now we look like we will be starting the season, with a makeshift right back, without a centre back who is comfortable playing on the left hand side, and a makeshift left back. I was never a big fan but letting Young go now looks a mistake. Whatever happened to Dixon bye the way ?

Sam Hoare 65 Posted 14/08/2025 at 07:38:16

I think Keane is not as bad as some on here believe. But he plays better with someone quick next to him, like he did with Branthwaite at the end of the last season, or in a period with Zouma. Keane and Tarkowski has not worked well in the past for us.

Will Moyes change the whole system? Wingbacks using Mcneill and Garner/Aznou?

Although we have done some decent business this summer I said at the start that I thought RB and RW were the obvious areas that we lacked; I find it bizarre that we have bought in 6 players but not yet one in these areas (though I'm sure the club have been trying). Meanwhile in Grealish, KDH and Alcaraz we have bought 3 players who all do best in the inside space around the 10 position.

Danny O'Neill 66 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:06:37

I think just about everyone has been saying that Sam.

On Keane, it's more about looking at him over the years. He's had some decent games, but as you say, he benefits from others. Should an experienced (now 32) player be relying on others?

Every player has strengths and weaknesses. Forgetting pace, that can be compensated for. His flaws have always been his anticipation, reading the game and playing catch up when the ball has gone over his head.

Anyway, for now, he's what we've got.

Mike Allison 67 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:08:44

I don’t suppose I should be surprised that ToffeeWeb has written off Aznou on the basis of his first c.70 minutes for the club in a pre-season friendly, but I am a little surprised.

He’s a Barcelona academy graduate, signed by Bayern Munich, who has top flight experience in Spain. Maybe he’s got something, and maybe that first 70 minutes wasn’t the full range of his entire ability and potential.

I’d go with Colin’s back 4: Garner, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Aznou

That allows Dewsbury-Hall to play alongside Gana and then N’Diaye, McNeil, Grealish and Alcaraz to compete for the 3 creative places. The caveat with this line up is that it’s more suited to a home game and we may be more cautious away.

If Keane does play, then it may actually be the kind of game that suits him as Leeds are bound to be front-footed and we’ll spend time in the ‘low block’. Keane is also much, much better with a run of games and makes a poor reserve coming in cold - something that made me surprised that we’d kept him on.

Danny O'Neill 68 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:25:43

Mike @67, I haven't heard many writing Aznou off. He was always brought in as cover and at 19, the understanding he will develop the already demonstrated potential.

He got thrown in against Roma after Mykolenko went down after 8 minutes, when he was probably expecting to play the last 15-20.

He has the pedigree, but the minutes played against Roma is not really the basis for making instant decisions on him.

Robert Tressell 69 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:28:21

The mistake is not letting Young go etc. We are a Premier League club. We just need to do what Premier League clubs do and buy players, assemble good squads etc.

Good though he could be, let’s hope we’re never again so destitute that we have to rely on players like Young.

It looks as though the plan is that we buy a RB with whatever kitty is left after we buy our right winger.

That might well be a good plan in the grand scheme of things but it’s frustrating to start the season, like last year, with another injury crisis.

Bit of a head scratcher with Aznou. I expect Plan A was to blood him in stages - possibly at left midfield with Mykolenko behind him - before he learns the ropes defensively and becomes our regular LB.

We’ll have to manage.

Ryan Holroyd 71 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:36:58

Coleman isn’t fit Ian so he ain’t playing

Liam Mogan 72 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:37:58

I agree Ian. Unless Mykolenko is somehow fit, he'll probably play 3 CBs

Robert Tressell 73 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:40:29

If we’ve got 3 fit CBs I would expect McNeil and Garner as WBs in a 343 / 5221.

KDH and Gueye in CM.

Grealish and Ndiaye in the half spaces behind Beto.

That’s much better than the patched up side we started last season with. Not ideal but not terrible.

Conor McCourt 74 Posted 14/08/2025 at 08:58:47

We have to now go back to a five. With the squad we have we probably should have been doing so anyway.

This may get the best out of a few players. KDH and Gana are less likely to get exposed defensively. Grealish will be allowed to do as he wants and Ndiaye will have no defensive responsibility and play as a second striker where he wants to play.

I don't think we are quite as in the shit as many are making our. Garner and McNeill will both do a job defensively and both like to get forward and put deliveries in. Patterson and Anzou both are better suited as wing backs for now.

We were a lot more up shit creek in other seasons.

Sam Hoare 75 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:18:12

Agreed Conor! It’s not so bad. Just frustrating that two days ago it looked like we had a clean bill of health and a pretty handy looking XI to play Moyes’ preferred 4231 (or a variant of). But a back 5 could work.

Have heard there’s a possibility Mykolenko which might change things as then I expect he’d just slot in Keane for Branthwaite.

Liam Mogan 76 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:24:25

There's always going to be injuries etc. When do we ever have a full squad available?

We just need to keep adding quality before the window stops, so we isn't deal with it better.

Andy Crooks 77 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:25:53

I was despairing about how we seemed to be taking our usual horrendous luck to the new stadium. Predicting to myself further miserable scenarios all leading to another relegation battle; such is the fragility of my faith in Everton.However, three cracking posts from Robert, Conor and Sam have made the sun shine again. Branthwaite? Better without him!! Bring it on.

Bobby Mallon 78 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:35:42

Let's just not get beat

Kunal Desai 79 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:36:16

We need to also be mindful Tarkowski only returned to first team action just shy of two weeks ago having been injured for three months.

I would like to think we can use the loan market to atleast target a right back allowing O'Brien to play centre back.

Mihir Ambardekar 80 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:43:12

Typical of us. Just when we have something positive to look at something stupid happens which dampens the mood. We are now focusing on attack which is needed but our defense is also a worry when you have Keane who is not a confident defender with mistake waiting to happen. O Brien is good but as a right back. As a centre half he is yet to prove himself. Hope we overcome this spell. Why are not signing an RB?

Liam Mogan 81 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:53:55

That's a good point about Tarkowski, Kunal.

Conor McCourt 82 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:57:31

Ha ha Robert hadn't read your post and made nearly identical points.

Not sure whether it's a case of 'great minds think alike' or 'dumb and dumber' but I hope we go with either variant.

Sam Myko back for Saturday? Are you sure?

Brian Harrison 83 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:07:38

I thought the idea of giving Seamus a contract extension was to cover at right back and possibly left back till Anzou is match ready.Should we sign a first team right back what happens to Jake Obrien when everyone is fit back on the bench, doubt he would fancy that and it doesnt look like Tarkowski would be benched.

Sam Hoare 84 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:10:05

Conor, I'm not sure at all. Was just an online rumour but from someone fairly reliable who said that the injury was not too serious and he had an outside chance of being available for Leeds on Monday.

Ian Bennett 85 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:11:49

Love the positivity, but going into a new stadium usually generates weaker results, so we need a first choice back four and quick. The first choice back 5 is defensively sound, and an asset to the team - it just lacks depth.

The fixtures are broadly favourable in the first 6 weeks, so we need to get the hammer down and rack up the points.

Its a long season, so hopefully we can get through it. For me it highlights the quality of top players at the top end that play 50-60 games a season and never seemingly get injured. They must be machines.

Danny O'Neill 86 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:22:32

From experience, I've never been convinced by a playing a back 5.

I appreciate it can be changeable throughout the match, but generally, it will naturally force the team to sit deep. It may look defensively sound on paper, but it will invite the opposition on and leave us subject to the laws of average.

Hopefully Mykolenko's injury isn't too serious. Groin strains are easier to recover from than a hamstring, obviously depending on how severe the strain was. Painful at the time, but you can sometimes hardly feel it sometimes a few days later.

That said, I don't think a week will be enough, especially at the top level. Let's see what Moyes says.

Ernie Baywood 88 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:38:14

There was a time when I thought a back 5 was the answer but it never really got a try. Nowadays I'm not sure we have the right personnel.

Right now I expect Moyes will take the 'least disruption' route and just plug the two gaps rather than shuffle formations or move people around.

So for my money it's O'Brien-Keane-Tarkowski plus whoever he trusts most at left back. Options are probably just Aznou, Coleman, or McNeil.

Personally, I'd give Aznou a chance. He's a left back.

Rob Hooton 90 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:52:48

Well this has pissed on my chips, just as I was getting excited for the new season.

Let’s see what new additions we get and how Moyes lines the team up, get well soon Mr Branthwaite.

Steve Brown 91 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:54:01

When have we played with 3 CBs and performed well and/or got results as a team?

I was trying to recall examples but honestly couldn’t think of any.

Ian Wilkins 92 Posted 14/08/2025 at 10:58:39

Coleman is not fit to play, tight thigh, and will rarely be seen on the pitch this season. We knew that.Aznou is not PL ready, it will take time. Paterson is injured, possible hernia, and let’s be honest shouldn’t be a consideration anyway. We are limping by, literally, with Myko, O’Brien and nothing else at full back. Negligence really for a PL team. Chermiti, Armstrong need to go out on loan for their development ( tho Armstrong also currently injured), Tim Iro maybe the same. Holding midfield is exposed if Gana injured and when goes to Afcon, plus at his age he shouldn’t play every game. 2 weeks of transfer window left, can we please strengthen this squad.

Not ideal obviously, we may have to score more goals which there's a good chance we will.Its a good job we retained Keane, injuries always happen, you do need a big squad to cover.Branthwaite I think is shaping up like an injury prone player, some are lucky and are very seldom injured, others always seem to be.I hope I'm wrong. Bryan Robson at Utd was always on the sick list, a great player but he was injury prone, he always comes to mind when players are injured.