The Blues boss provided an update on the recovery of both players at his pre-Crystal Palace press conference
Jarrad Branthwaite during Everton's pre-season friendly with Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Jarrad Branthwaite during Everton's pre-season friendly with Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
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Neither Jarrad Branthwaite nor Merlin Rohl will be available for Everton against Crystal Palace. Branthwaite is yet to have kicked a ball for the Blues this season due to a hamstring injury suffered on the eve of the campaign.
Rohl, a deadline day loan signing from Freiburg, made his debut from the bench against Aston Villa last month but has been absent since due to an issue in his hip/groin area.
David Moyes confirmed that, while both players were making progress, they would be unavailable for the match on Sunday. Everton will also be without summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who will be serving a one-game suspension after picking up five yellow cards in the opening six Premier League matches.
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Asked about the fitness of Branthwaite and Rohl, Moyes told his pre-Palace press conference at Finch Farm: “Both are the same, there is no change.
“Neither of them will be fit for the game. Both are making progress and with a bit of luck we will start to get them on the grass - we’ve not yet got them on the grass training - so that’s where they are at.”
Branthwaite signed a new long-term Everton contract in the summer, committing his future to the club in the face of interest from Champions League oufits.
An injury setback suffered late in pre-season has prevented him from taking part so far, providing an opportunity for Michael Keane to have a standout start to the campaign.
Rohl’s arrival paved the way for teen starlet Harrison Armstrong to leave for Preston on loan, but the 23-year-old’s impact has been hindered by his own injury.
Moyes has a deeper squad than he did last season and those issues have not stopped the Blues from making a positive start to the campaign - though Moyes conceded there was frustration more points had not been taken from recent matches.
Asked about his use of substitutes - he has made fewer than any other top-flight manager so far - he said: “I always looked at Pep [Guardiola] and he always made his substitutions late in games, I didn’t think he was someone who made subs very early and I always looked at him as someone who has probably got the idea.
“There is a big change in football where you make subs, fresh legs, I accept all that, but there are other ways to go about it as well.
“I feel we’ve got a much stronger squad and bench than we have had for a long time and we are able to make changes if need be, but sometimes if there is no need to make the changes you don’t make them for changing's sake.”