Everton boss Sean Dyche opens up on Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury recovery amid £70m-rated defender’s fitness concerns at the start of the season
Sean Dyche has admitted misgivings about rushing back £70million-rated Jarrad Branthwaite too early after the defender’s first abortive comeback against Crystal Palace six weeks ago.
Branthwaite played 90 minutes against Palace on September 28 in his first action of the season following a groin injury but suffered a quad complaint in the aftermath and has only been available for Everton’s last two matches since, making late cameo appearances as a substitute against Fulham and Southampton.
With fans’ pressure on Dyche to select the talented young defender against West Ham on Saturday, the Blues boss has revealed the player’s recent history to explain his dilemma.
‘I thought it was a bit early for Jarrad (against Palace) but the consensus (from the medical and sports science team) was he’s right to play. Then two days later, he gets injured again. I’m not saying I’m right but I thought it was a bit too quick,’ said Dyche.
‘Some players, you can’t explain every single detail of every injury but some are more delicate than others.
Jarrad Branthwaite – who is rated at around £70million – has struggled with fitness at the start of this season
Sean Dyche opened up on the difficulty in judging when to reintroduce an injured player to playing duties
‘You have to be really careful and if that approach goes too far, in a split-second you affect someone for 3-4 weeks.
‘Unfortunately, we have had a few of them when they’re coming back from semi-serious injuries like Jarrad’s.
‘It starts a simple situation, a minor operation then leads to a secondary and third phase, gets fit then gets reinjured. That’s the Jarrad story.
‘There’s no lack of thirst to get these players fit. We’ve got to get them fit enough to actually play.’
Everton’s five-match unbeaten run ended at St Mary’s last weekend leaving Dyche to wrestle whether the 22-year-old, who has been back in full training, should replace Michael Keane or James Tarkowski against The Hammers.
Seamus Coleman (hamstring) is out while Dwight McNeil (knee) is a doubt though Abdoulaye Doucoure has returned to training.
Striker Armando Broja, who hasn’t featured during his loan spell from Chelsea because of an Achilles injury, should be able to resume full training after the international break.
Broja has been involved in warm-ups with his team-mates and Dyche is looking for the next step.
The English defender played his first 90 minutes of the season against Crystal Palace in September
‘Everyone disperses next week but when they come back he will be in full training with the team,’ said Dyche, who has to decide whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Beto is his main striker this weekend.
‘We have four strikers (with Youssef Chermiti) who are very good, a mix of experiences, but unfortunately two have been injured. We have been very limited this season.
‘Dom’s record is pretty strong now in regards of his fitness. Beto is learning all the time and he increases that coming on the pitch.
‘I think he has been effective so the margins (between them) get tighter. Striker is the hardest position on the pitch so I am slightly more tolerant of those when they have a quieter spell.’
Calvert-Lewin is currently on a run of six games without a goal and was substituted against Southampton with his replacement Beto hitting the woodwork and having a goal disallowed for offside.
