Jarrad Branthwaite to have operation as Everton star suffers devastating injury setback

Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is to undergo an operation on Tuesday after he suffered a significant new injury setback, just as manager David Moyes was hopeful of his most valuable player stepping up his return.

The 23-year-old has not played for the Blues all season, but Moyes confirmed he was back on the grass in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning to preview the trip to Manchester City the following day with the club then releasing a series of photographs before the weekend, showing Branthwaite taking part in training with team-mates, both in a game situation and while attached to a resistance band.

However, he is now facing a prolonged period on the sidelines with the club issuing the following statement: "Everton Football Club can confirm Jarrad Branthwaite has experienced a complication in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

"Following specialist consultation, it has been determined the defender will undergo a surgical procedure tomorrow to address the issue. Branthwaite will commence a structured rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical team following the operation."

Branthwaite's wait to take to the turf in a competitive action for the first time since signing a new five-year contract on July 2 therefore continues. He was snapped up for the Blues as a 17-year-old in January 2020 to officially become the first signing of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure after catching the eye of director of football Marcel Brands.

At the time he had played just nine League Two matches for home city club Carlisle United but after loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven – where he was reunited with Brands – he returned to Goodison Park at the start of the 2023/24 season to establish himself as a first team regular. The breakthrough campaign saw Branthwaite play 41 matches in all competitions – including 35 in the Premier League – score the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Liverpool for Everton’s first Merseyside Derby success at Goodison for 13-and-a-half years and finish with a first full cap when coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park on June 3.

That summer, he was subject to a brace of transfer bids from Manchester United but after offering an initial £35million plus add ons in June and then £45million plus add ons the following month, they did not come close to forcing the hand of Blues top brass who were always determined to keep hold of their prize asset.

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