Jarrad Branthwaite has been named in the England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games.
The Everton centre-back makes his return for England for the autumn fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia, following a strong start to the season at club level.
The 24-year-old is one of five central defensive options selected by Thomas Tuchel, alongside Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Trevoh Chalobah, and Jarell Quansah. Branthwaite will be hoping to add to his sole senior cap, earned against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024.
Branthwaite has been a central figure in Everton’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season, leading all centre-backs in the division for shots blocked per 90 minutes, and ranking third for percentage of aerial duels won.
Branthwaite joins Jordan Pickford in the group, where the goalkeeper will look to add to his 91 caps for the Three Lions. Ex-Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also selected after three goals in four league games for Leeds United this season.
England squad for September and October Nations League fixtures
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, James Trafford
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott
Forwards: Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka
A vision for Branthwaite in Everton’s future
Later in the day, David Moyes talked about the efforts made to ensure Everton retained Branthwaite as a key element to build around when the club repelled strong interest from Manchester United for the youngster’s signature:
“It was probably one of the most difficult times, really, because we had just left Goodison. Obviously we had avoided relegation and were moving into the new stadium. We had to work hard in the summer to get Jarrad because he was in demand.
“Then, unfortunately, he picked up an injury which put him back a little bit and it hung with us for quite a while. But I always thought he had the attributes to go on to be a top centre-back and he’s still young. Centre-backs can play for a long time.
“I don’t know if I can get the words right but he’s trying to maybe grow out of that big, athletic legs and young body, which might have just hindered him a little bit [physically] earlier on.
“We’ve paced him through pre-season. We didn’t play him in all the games, we kept him out if we were playing Saturday, Wednesday in the early part, we kept him out of it.
“We didn’t use him in midweek here, at the moment, but he’s ready to play if he has to play Saturday, Wednesday football. So we’ve just tried to – and I have to say the medical team have done a really good job – but Jarrad’s looked after himself really well and, if anything, I think when you have an injury like Jarrad’s it makes you even more professional.
“So I think in some ways it’s made Jarrad realise that he’ll need to really look after himself at the right times. But it’s just that he’s got such acceleration and speed. He’s had a couple of hamstring injuries which hopefully are solved.
“We’ve got him on a really good long contract now. So my idea is that we build and we bring more players of that level in which makes Jarrad want to stay and that makes him realise that we’re building a team, which is going to be improving.
“We have to show those players, and we have to show people like Jarrad Branthwaite, that we are going to make those steps to continue to step forward.”
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