Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has taken to social media to provide an update after he underwent surgery today
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and AS Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Jarrad Branthwaite has made it clear he will be back after his latest Everton injury blow
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Jarrad Branthwaite said surgery on his injured hamstring was a success. The Everton defender underwent the operation today (Tuesday, October 21).
Branthwaite was on the cusp of returning to the Blues’ first team last week. The 23-year-old was involved in training and appeared to have overcome the issue that had taken him out of action at the end of last season and then, having fought back for pre-season, the start of this campaign.
He was so close to making his comeback that David Moyes considered naming him in his matchday squad for the trip to Manchester City on Saturday just gone.
Instead, Branthwaite faces another prolonged period on the sidelines after suffering a complication with his injury.
The setback was severe enough for club medical staff to recommend an operation that was scheduled for today.
And, this afternoon, Branthwaite posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed, smiling to the camera, on his Instagram page.
Alongside it was a message of defiance as he declared: “Operation completed successfully. Thanks to the medical team for their work and to everyone who’s reached out with messages of support.
“Even the negative ones add fuel to the fire and make me more determined.
“It’s been the toughest spell of my career so far but challenges build character.
“I’ll be stronger and better. Don’t doubt it.”
The recurrence of Branthwaite's injuries has weighed on the mind of Everton manager Moyes and he ended the transfer window by exploring whether another defender might be needed amid the failure to secure a new right-back and with James Tarkowski and Vitalii Mykolenko having also faced fitness problems through the summer.
But there has been hope that Branthwaite’s issues - this is the third blow to the same hamstring - were development-related rather than hints of a deeper problem.
Moyes said: “He's a tall, lean boy, 22, I don’t know if he just, and I don't mean develop, but certainly his limbs and everything are still getting to the point where they should be. That might be some of the reasons for it.”
The Blues boss was already looking towards the return of Branthwaite's prowess, which was key to the impressive form that followed Moyes' comeback in January and why he made securing a new, long-term contract for the England international the centrepoint of his summer ambitions.
Moyes also said on Friday: “The thing that you mustn't forget about Jarrad is his ability on the ball, his pace, his stature. He is a left-footed centre-back and I think that he's hugely important to the future of Everton and where we go forward and how we build and that's the way I saw it in the summer.
“I didn't want to sign another player before I signed Jarrad. I felt Jarrad had to be (the priority), and I think for Evertonians as well, I think they probably recognised the ability he's got.
“There were a lot of suitors who wanted him. So we had to fight to make sure that we kept him. I do agree that we're missing him because of his injuries.”