Everton have come on leaps and bounds since David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in the dugout.
The Premier League’s the place for Bramley Moore next season, with Moyes strengthening the tenuous grip his predecessor’s demise had left at Everton.
So many players have found a new lease of life with the Scotsman at the helm, nearly 12 years after parting with his Goodison Park dynasty to take a role as Sir Alex Ferguson’s heir at Manchester United.
However, some have showcased their lofty talent from the get-go. Jarrad Branthwaite’s one of them.
That’s not actually true. Branthwaite was absent across Everton’s opening five top-flight fixtures of the term. It’s no surprise his unavailability covered the wretched four-game losing run that perhaps condemned Dyche from the term’s offing.
Everton have only fallen to four defeats across the 20 matches the Englishman has started in 2024/25, so strong and sturdy, such an “immense” centre-back, in the words of The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland.
Unfortunately, this Englishman was snubbed by Thomas Tuchel as the former Chelsea manager named his first Three Lions squad.
Toffees from all around have been left questioning why.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s England exclusion
It was a star-studded list of miss-outs. Tuchel could only pick so many, and England do have an overload of quality. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more compelling case for inclusion than Branthwaite’s.
Harry Maguire was unfortunate not to be on the list due to injury, for he is a seasoned international and the world’s record defender besides. However, he’s ebbed away from his best football this season. Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah has been a bit-part player under Arne Slot.
Branthwaite, however, has indeed been one of the division’s standout centre-backs for the second season running, perhaps not showcasing the silky passing range that other top defenders boast, but Everton’s counter-attacking style highlights how such skills are placed on the shelf for those in the 22-year-old’s position.
