Dyche issues 13-word January message about Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite

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Everton are a team transformed in recent weeks, with predictions regarding expected goals and better results finally coming to fruition.

Sean Dyche attested that things would get better, and just as he foresaw, two wins and a draw across a six-day period confirmed his suspicions.

At last, the fanbase seems to be slowly uniting around a manager aware of their predicament and willing to knuckle down to forge a brighter future for the Toffees.

However, alongside his intelligent tactics forged to suit the players, it would be hard not to give credit to some of those on-field stars who have also stepped up.

Jarrad Branthwaite in particular has been the outstanding success story of the season, having returned from his loan spell with PSV Eindhoven and taken to life in the Premier League with ease.

Despite rumours of the Dutch side seeking a permanent move for the 21-year-old, and even reports emerging recently of additional interested parties, Dyche has remained firm that his young defender was never for sale.

Whilst he would go on to speak in more length, the initial 13-word statement he uttered captured the essence of his thoughts on the matter: ‘I was making it clear he wouldn’t be a player who was available.’

The 52-year-old would then add: ‘I knew there were certain players who had to leave the building, whether I wanted them to leave or not, we had to bring down the wage bill a little bit.

‘So I made it clear – ‘no he’s one I want to be in the building and I see development in him.’

How good is Jarrad Branthwaite?

Having made a handful of first-team appearances before this season, it seems like the £35k-per-week titan has now emerged as one of the first names on the team sheet, rendering himself almost undroppable.

Such a show of faith from Dyche is unsurprising given the volume with which he has praised the centre-back, who is classy in possession but often mature enough to know when the time to pump the ball clear from danger.

As such, across his nine league starts, the former Carlisle United star is averaging an admirable 2.2 tackles, 4.8 clearances and 7.6 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

He is a defensive colossus, and alongside James Tarkowski, there are few forwards in world football who would enjoy an afternoon trying to bypass their partnership.

With Branthwaite providing the youthful energy that always gets fans excited, and the rock-solid 30-year-old offering a fine foundation for him to thrive, it seems Dyche has found the perfect balance at the back to hopefully build that brighter future for the long-term.