Phil Jagielka shares the ‘issue’ John Stones had when he was playing for Everton

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Everton have had some remarkable young talents emerge throughout their illustrious history, with the current squad even laden with them despite the club’s struggles.

Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite make up the youthful spine of Sean Dyche’s outfit, and are both key cogs in a side that seems set to hopefully escape the drop after their latest appeal success against the Premier League.

The latter actually has drawn comparisons with another fledgling star that they once nurtured in John Stones, who is now a world-class asset and an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking side.

However, Phil Jagielka has recently outlined how his development was not as smooth as his subsequent success has been.

What Phil Jagileka said about John Stones

Spending 12 impressive years at Goodison Park, the former Sheffield United and Derby County defender remains a revered figure on Merseyside.

An unflinching leader who never let his side down, he lasted throughout the ever-changing landscape at Everton, and therefore saw it all.

One piece of development he has likely kept a keen eye on was the development of Stones, who he played alongside as he sought to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

And whilst he recognised his greatness early, there remained key fragilities that held him back.

He told the Ben Foster podcast: ‘When he came in the issue he had was that the defensive part of his brain wasn’t his first thought process. It was the elegance and all sorts. When you are playing in the team we played in, I wouldn’t say he struggled, but there were times when he took unnecessary risks.

‘If you’re taking risks and doing a Cryuff and playing out from the back he may have been comfortable doing it, but the people around you weren’t.’

Jarrad Branthwaite might be better than Stones was at Everton

A young English centre-back just desperate to play beautiful football, Stones was one of Europe’s hottest young prospects having emerged at Everton.

Signed from Barnsley, his progression into the first team was meteoric, and he swiftly became a mainstay for the Toffees.

However, he was not without his faults, as Jagielka noted.

That desperation to continue playing in his mould had its benefits and detractions, but when it went wrong, it was spectacular.

Few can argue with how he has progressed and the magnificent career he has enjoyed, but there is a very strong argument to be made that Branthwaite is currently a better player than Stones was during his stint at Goodison Park.

After all, whilst he too boasts that ability to play out from the back with grace and poise, his supreme physical profile and calmer temperament make him far more mature than the current Manchester City man once was.

He has been one of the key pillars from which Dyche has built his success at Goodison Park, and likely will fetch a far greater fee than the £47.5m they gained from Stones’ sale.