Everton cannot afford to leave out their best players. Jarrad Branthwaite is one of them – for me, he should start at Southampton.
I could understand why the club sought to be patient as he recovered from his injuries, first the groin problem that cost him his summer and then the quad complaint that followed his return in the win against Crystal Palace.
Sean Dyche opted to give him another week to get fit when he left him out at Ipswich Town and the win and the clean sheet vindicated that call.
While Everton escaped with a draw against Fulham, that was not a good performance. One of the many concerns for me was the lack of cohesion between the forward line and the midfield, and the midfield and the defence.
Often the gaps between them were too big and in that space two things happened – Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left isolated up front and the likes of Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith-Rowe were given too much freedom to carry the ball up the pitch – something we saw with Iwobi’s goal.
Branthwaite would not solve all the problems – the midfield needs to be looked at whatever happens behind it. But his pace and athleticism allows Everton’s defence to push further up the pitch. Knowing he can get back and recover allows the team to advance higher and potentially close some of those gaps.
Branthwaite’s return would also have a psychological impact. For his teammates, it would offer a boost to know that such a key player is back. For the opposition it would hurt them to know Everton have one of the best young defenders in the game to strengthen their backline.
Everton are five unbeaten and have conceded just three goals in that period, so I could understand why some people might view a change as harsh. You need to be ruthless, however. If Virgil van Dijk missed a fortnight and Joe Gomez played well while filling in, would Liverpool hesitate over bringing him straight back? I don’t think so.
For me, the question is not whether he returns but how his comeback is accommodated.
Michael Keane has played well in recent weeks and there is an argument that James Tarkowski, who we know has played through injury this season, might benefit from a break in his schedule.
Another option could be to play three at the back. Whether Dyche would consider that I am not sure – he has used that formation on occasion, including in the win at Burnley last season. But whatever the solution might be, I think a return for Branthwaite is a necessity and could be the first step in making Everton’s spine more solid – something that needs to happen.
