Jarrad Branthwaite shares how he found out about first England call up today

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Jarrad Branthwaite has been called up to the England squad for the first time after an impressive 2023/24 season for Everton.

The 21-year-old has started 25 matches for Sean Dyche’s side this season, scoring two goals and forming a rock-solid partnership with James Tarkowski.

Branthwaite finds himself firmly in Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of the European Championships in Germany.

And now the Everton defender has opened up about how he found out about his first senior call-up.

Jarrad Branthwaite shares how Sean Dyche told him about England call-up

Talking to Everton’s official YouTube Channel, the 21-year-old revealed that Dyche pulled him aside in training to share the news.

“I found out in training, the gaffer pulled me and told me that i’d been selected. I was buzzing when I heard the news. Got into training, and it’s all I could think about, really,” he said.

Should Jarrad Branthwaite start for England?

Branthwaite’s call-up is richly deserved. He’s arguably been Everton’s standout performer during the 2023/24 season and has given Southgate no choice but to select him.

There’s a chance for the Cumbrian-born defender to stake a claim during the fixtures against Brazil and Belgium.

John Stones is the only nailed-on central defender at the moment.

Harry Maguire’s form is indifferent, regardless of how much Southgate likes him. The likes of Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomes haven’t played too much international football. Furthermore, it’s hard to envisage Lewis Dunk starting in Germany.

There’s competition, but an opportunity for Branthwaite to stake a claim ahead of an expectant summer for the Three Lions.

The defender’s future has also been a talking point, but Dyche is adamant he doesn’t want to see Everton’s best players depart.

He said: “We’re not in the business of trying to sell players. You only sell players if you have to sell players or there’s a problem. There’s no problem; therefore, I’m just hoping we don’t need to sell players. At the minute, we certainly don’t. So we will see.”