Everton are fresh from beating Aston Villa, and have now received a boost ahead of facing Leeds United.
David Moyes masterminded a terrific result on Sunday, as the Toffees came away from Villa Park with all three points.
Everton have confirmed Jarrad Branthwaite is back in light training! 🚨
How big a boost will his return be, Everton fans?
Thierno Barry scored his third goal in four Premier League games, and it was just a terrific away performance that saw Everton fully deserving of the win.
It puts the club in a healthy position.
The club are now up to 10th in the table, but the Toffees are only four points off fourth position.
Up next for Everton is Leeds, and there’s good news for Moyes ahead of the clash.
- READ MORE: Everton player ratings vs Aston Villa, Thierno Barry one of four 8/10s in big win for David Moyes
Jarrad Brathwaite now in full training for Everton after injury
Everton have had several players missing for weeks now.
And in the case of Jarrad Branthwaite, the central defender has not yet played this season having been contending with hamstring injury picked up in pre-season.
It was hoped at first that the injury wasn’t too serious. But Branthwaite ended up having surgery, forcing him to watch the season from the sidelines so far.
Branthwaite was pictured partaking in some light training last week at Finch Farm.
And now, it has been reported by The Bobble on X that the centre-half is now training as normal with the rest of his teammates. And there is also word on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
He said: “David Moyes has received a huge boost to his squad, with Jarrad Branthwaite now returning to full first-team training and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall making a return to light training.”
It’s great news for Everton, who want to build on the win at Villa.
That said, after what we saw at the weekend, the decision of who to play in the backline should be clear for Moyes.
- READ MORE: Alan Myers says Everton are set for ‘imminent’ boost that will be ‘key’ in improving the results
Jake O’Brien must start vs Leeds despite Branthwaite update
It is fantastic news that Branthwaite is now back in full training.
Perhaps there will be a temptation for Moyes to get him straight into the starting XI against Leeds.
But even if Branthwaite had some match sharpness under his belt, there is surely no way Moyes could overlook Jake O’Brien starting in the middle next to Tarkowski.
Against Villa, O’Brien was immense, making 12 defensive contributions, which included eight clearances. He also made one last man tackle.
And he may well have been on the scoresheet but for a controversial offside interference call from VAR against Harrison Armstrong.
O’Brien and Tarkowski simply have to be the centre-back pairing against Leeds. Why try to fix what isn’t broken?
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