Harry Diamond 27/07/2026 5comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Jarrad Branthwaite has said he is eager to put last season behind him after making his Everton return at Bolton.

Branthwaite played the first 45 minutes of the goalless draw at Bolton on Saturday, his first minutes since sustaining a hamstring injury in the Merseyside derby in April.

The 2025-26 campaign proved a frustrating one for Everton’s new Number 4, who made only seven Premier League starts due to fitness issues. Branthwaite missed the first five months of the campaign, having had hamstring surgery in October, before suffering another issue to curtail his season.

This summer will be Branthwaite’s first full pre-season programme since 2022, and the centre-back is determined to use it to his advantage. He said Everton have re-evaluated his work-load after recent fitness problems and hopes the changes made can lead to a positive and injury-free campaign.

“It was good to get back out there, (it’s been) a long time since the Liverpool game last season. It was good to get pplgradually build my minutes, build my way into it and get ready for the start of the season,” he said after the Bolton draw.

“After the Liverpool game it was tough and we had to re-evaluate what we were doing. I headed out to Germany to see some people out there and do my rehab there for a few weeks, just to look at things differently. Hopefully we’ve resolved some issues and I hope I can kick on now. 

“I’m feeling good. It’s just about managing the work through pre-season, not pushing myself too hard. You know, the only thing is to be ready for the first game of the season, to have a positive season, and put last season behind me."

 

Reader Comments (5)

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Mike Hayes
1 Posted 27/07/2026 at 18:20:22
Fingers crossed that’s the end of his injuries and the start of a decent run in the team 💙
Stu Darlington
2 Posted 27/07/2026 at 21:15:40
A relatively injury-free season will be a great boost to our defence. They are pretty average defenders at best and another season older won't improve things, so Branthwaite's presence could be vital.

Reinforcements in several positions are needed urgently; we all know that. Unfortunately, our specialist recruitment team don't seem to be on the same page.

The clock is ticking and this transfer window is beginning to look a lot like our other recent ones... last minute, desperate and with absolutely no evidence of any transfer strategy or planning.

TFG appear to be totally disinterested in the football side of Everton Football Club, evidenced not only by a seeming reluctance to strengthen the squad but by allowing the unambitious Moyes to run down his contract.

I hope I'm wrong and that things are progressing behind the scenes, but I'm beginning to fear the worst!
Steve Jones
3 Posted 28/07/2026 at 12:00:53
I hope and believe you are wrong Stu ;-)

Branthwaite will add so much class squeezing forward, playing into midfield, linking and orchestrating the left hand side. It maybe that three/five at the back with Aznou giving more licence to go forward.
This could be an ingame switch to add a difference in the second half of games, which we appeared to wilt in during the last seven games.

Overall - there is a natural repeated cycle in the transfer window - you know - agents get busy, rumours, click bait etc plus the flow down from the pyramid of money transfers.

It's like dominoes each year - the few big record fees then trigger the next tier and so forth.

We will end up with another three decent incoming perms and probably a further 2 loans or loan to buys. That would make 8 new signings.This will all happen late as the hierarchy of asks filters down from players and agents. Of course they want Champions League etc before they would come to us. They are all trying to sort out their pecking order.

There will also be the outgoings Patto, McNeil and Tim to balance up. I have a hunch Harrison will stay and not be loaned out as he keeps the ball better than Tim.
Stu Darlington
4 Posted 28/07/2026 at 16:01:10
I wish I had your faith Steve,I really hope you prove me wrong both for the club and supporters sake.

The thought of another season struggling in the bottom half of the table with square pegs in round holes is really depressing.

Just a hint of a recruitment plan or strategy would be really helpful but unfortunately no sign yet.
Mark Murphy
5 Posted 28/07/2026 at 16:14:50
Can people please refer to Harrison Armstrong by his surname?
I keep having dark thoughts that were still stuck with more than one shite winger.

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