For the first time in a long while, Everton have three representatives in the England squad.
Jordan Pickford was a shoo-in, but Jarrad Branthwaite’s recall, for the first time since 2024, came as something of a surprise.
Not that Branthwaite doesn’t deserve an England call-up — he is clearly one of the best centre-backs the Three Lions could call on — but because, even when he was fit, he has not previously featured in a squad under Thomas Tuchel.
Then, earlier this week when Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Tino Livramento and Marcus Rashford withdrew from the squad, James Garner received a call up.
Garner was hugely unfortunate to miss out on the World Cup squad, and this writer is still baffled by Tuchel’s decision to leave him at home, especially after the German praised Garner heavily following his Three Lions debut in March.
Ironically enough, Garner’s form so far this season hasn’t really been befitting of an England call up, but he is now in and will get another chance to impress Tuchel at the start of a new cycle for the national team.
And all of this is a huge positive for Garner and Branthwaite.
Garner, having missed his moment in the summer, will surely be keen to show Tuchel that his omission from the World Cup squad was a mistake. Branthwaite, meanwhile, deserves his chance on the international stage.
Come Euro 2028, if he stays fit, Branthwaite should be a first-choice centre-back for the Three Lions.
“To be called back up to the England squad means everything,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday. “For all the hard work that’s gone in, the rehab, to get back to this point, it makes it worthwhile and I’m buzzing to be back in the England set-up.
“Every time you see your name on the list it’s a pleasure, and I’m thankful I get this opportunity to play for England.”
Staying fit — there’s the crux for Branthwaite. And that’s why some Evertonians are probably concerned.
Branthwaite spent several weeks in Munich at a state-of-the-art rehab facility towards the end of last season. He was carefully managed by Everton’s medical staff over the summer and David Moyes has continued that sensible management of his minutes at the start of this season.
Branthwaite has played every Premier League minute so far, but has not been pushed to play in either of the midweek League Cup games.
This three-week window, then, could have been the ideal opportunity for Branthwaite to get a bit of a break, recover and then be ready to go as the weather starts to worsen, the nights begin to draw in and football becomes that bit more hectic.
It’s slightly different for Garner.
He missed pre-season due to his recovery from a hernia operation, and you can tell.
His touch is off, his passes aren’t quite as crisp and his positioning is leaving a bit to be desired. It’s not that he has been atrocious in every game, but his level isn’t there just yet.
Due to Everton’s lack of options, Garner has had to play his way towards sharpness. He was very good against Tottenham, but then two games in the space of the six days that followed clearly took its toll — he was off it against Wolves and poor again when Ipswich Town visited Hill Dickinson Stadium last Saturday.
Had Garner not been called up, it felt like a great chance for him to get up to speed and almost have a mini pre-season.
So, while the worry for Branthwaite is he could end up being pushed a bit too far, too soon, the concern over Garner is that he won’t get the real fitness work he needs to sharpen up.
But, on the plus side, Garner will get gametime, and that’s more match minutes in the legs. The hope with Branthwaite, though, is that he is not pushed to play twice in quick succession.
Overall, it should be seen as a positive that two of Everton’s key outfielders are in the England fold. It also shows to those players that you can play for the club and also get international recognition.
Sure, it’s left the numbers remaining at Finch Farm very low — Everton may well struggle to name a starting XI for their planned behind-closed-doors friendly against Blackburn Rovers next week — but, hopefully, Garner and Branthwaite return from the England camp brimming with confidence.
But, it would probably have been nice to just have those two within Everton’s control for a little while longer.
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