Stuart Pearce says he heard ‘good things’ about Everton youngster while he was out on loan

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Everton are a side with very little to shout about at the moment, given the struggles that continue to plague them.

Their efforts to avoid the drop, whilst they have been minimal in recent months, continue to be pushed back by the Premier League’s counteractive measures against them.

Having administered one deduction in November, a hearing has just started regarding a second, where they will seek to further condemn the Toffees to the Championship.

Whilst their future remains firmly in their own hands for now, it does mark a worrying time to be a blue. Fortunately, Jarrad Branthwaite has offered a glimmer of positivity across this current international break.

What Stuart Pearce said about Jarrad Branthwaite

Speaking to talkSPORT earlier this morning (26/03, 9:15 am), the former Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and England (in a caretaker capacity) manager was effusive in his praise for Branthwaite.

And whilst he attempted to avoid patronising the young defender, he actually ended up emphasising his qualities further by outlining the lack of strength surrounding him at club level.

He would tell Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist, after the latter had asked whether he had impressed the 61-year-old: ‘Yeah he certainly has, as I say he’s played in a team that’s struggled a little bit this year it’s fair to say, but he has been the shining light within that.

‘I think he’s still a player that has got a vast deal of improvement in front of him, but that’s probably a backhanded compliment I’m saying to him.

‘I heard good things about him when he was out on loan last year and he’s come back to Everton, Dyche’s backed him, shoved him in the team and he’s grown and grown.’

This comes a day after Stelling made a bold claim about Branthwaite in which he implored Evertonians to ‘leave the room’ before he started…

England cap could see Jarrad Branthwaite’s value skyrocket

It is truly a sad state of affairs when, because of the dire financial position of the club, one of the main takeaways from a young Everton star being selected for England is that his value will have taken a sharp upturn.

But that is simply the case, and at just 21 years old it is mesmeric the speed with which he has risen to the apex of the English game.

Although starring for a struggling side, led by Sean Dyche, his ability to shine despite all the turmoil and forcing himself into Gareth Southgate’s thinking is an achievement in itself.

Branthwaite joined Everton under Carlo Ancelotti’s watch, for a mere £1m fee.

Carlisle United would likely have welcomed such a large figure at the time, but the platform afforded to the youngster at the top level has likely seen that grow exponentially.

In fact, even before this international call-up, there were reports suggesting the Toffees would accept no less than £100m for him this summer. Well, this latest development with the England side, should he get his first cap, could solidify that figure as a fair bargaining position for Dyche to start at.