Everton fans would have wanted to see their side make a more promising start to the season with just 10 points on the board currently.
It has been far from encouraging from Sean Dyche’s side who have gone into the final international break of the year just three points above the drop zone.
Dyche is under pressure at Everton with new ownership on its way to Goodison Park ahead of the January transfer window.
Names have already been thrown around as his potential replacement with The Friedkin Group expected to assess Dyche after arriving on Merseyside.
But it seems as if the Everton boss may have just been proven massively right after a development to emerge on Wednesday.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite has suffered injury setback
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Jarrad Branthwaite had returned to Finch Farm after suffering from an injury issue during the England camp.
This will come as a huge frustration to the Everton fans who have only just seen the 22-year-old return on the weekend from a previous injury setback.
Everton fans slammed Dyche for not starting Branthwaite in the game against Southampton which the Toffees lost.
However, the young defender did return to the starting lineup for the trip to West Ham on the weekend before he made the trip down to St George’s Park.
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Everton fans may owe Sean Dyche an apology over Branthwaite
Ahead of the game against West Ham, Dyche admitted he was not convinced Branthwaite was fully fit after he returned from his recent setback.
“I thought was a bit early for Jarrad, but the consensus was: ‘no, I think he’s right to come play’. And then two days later, he got injured again,” said Dyche.
The defender was clearly lacking match fitness against the Hammers but it seems as if there could be more at play than just that.
Even some Everton fans admitted Branthwaite didn’t look right against West Ham with some actually admitting Dyche may have been right.
Although tests will need to be undergone at Finch Farm, Everton could now be looking at Michael Keane partnering James Tarkowski again at the back.
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