By 
Everton manager Sean Dyche has shared a fitness update on Jarrad Branthwaite and other squad members ahead of Saturday’s evening match against Fulham. While Branthwaite, who impressed last season and earned his first England cap in June, has seen limited playtime this season, Dyche expressed optimism regarding the young defender’s fitness.
Branthwaite made a successful return on September 28, helping Everton secure a 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace. However, he was sidelined for subsequent matches against Newcastle United and Ipswich Town. Dyche confirmed, “He’s trained all week. I made a call on it last week, deciding not to include him even for the squad because I thought it was important for him to have a clear week of training. He’ll certainly be part of the squad now.”
The manager also noted the competition among Everton’s centre-backs, stating, “We have four very good centre-backs, all fighting for the shirt. That will look after itself.”
Regarding other players, Dyche updated fans on Jesper Lindstrom, who missed the recent 2-0 victory over Ipswich due to illness but is now back in contention. He said, “Jimmy Garner is still under observation for a back injury, waiting on a specialist’s view. Broja is on the edge of returning to training and making good progress, although it’s a soft start for him.”
Dyche also addressed the injury status of Youssef Chermiti, noting, “It’s a very strange injury with the tendon coming off the big toe. He is making progress but is still a number of weeks away.” The situation appears similar for Tim Iroegbunam, who is dealing with a bone injury and will need several weeks to recover.
Additionally, former England international Dele Alli, whose contract expired over the summer, continues to train with the club as he aims for a potential new deal. Dyche remarked, “Dele is just getting back on the grass again. He’s building up from another minor injury, but unfortunately it costs him a bit more time.”
On a different note, Dyche was asked about the club’s ownership situation. Despite previous discussions with 777 Partners regarding a takeover, he revealed that he has yet to communicate with the prospective new owners, the Friedkin Group. “Nope,” he replied when asked about any talks. “I keep getting asked, but that hasn’t changed since last week, the week before that, and the week before that.”
With the match against Fulham approaching, Everton fans will be eager to see how the squad performs with Branthwaite’s anticipated return and the status of other key players.
Comments