Everton have seen Jarrad Branthwaite suffer an injury setback, and James Garner’s position could change as a result.
Jarrad Branthwaite faces an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury setback.
The defender missed the start of the season with a hamstring problem and has now undergone surgery after suffering a further issue.
Everton fans have been left concerned by Branthwaite’s setback, but the Toffees have defensive options.
James Tarkowski and Michael Keane can continue at centre-back, with Jake O’Brien another option in his more natural position.
Everton star James Garner.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
Alan Stubbs highlights James Garner’s position at Everton
O’Brien isn’t exactly a natural right-back, and he has had problems in that role this season.
Branthwaite’s injury means O’Brien is certainly Everton’s third-choice centre-back for the foreseeable future, and Moyes may be tempted to make a change at right-back in order to manage O’Brien’s workload.
Veteran hero Seamus Coleman is one option, but James Garner has also operated as a right-back in the past.
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Midfielder Garner has impressed for Everton this season and actually started the campaign as a left-back.
Garner featured at right-back at times last season, and former Toffees defender Alan Stubbs believes this could be the role for him.
Stubbs thinks that Garner had played ‘some of his best games’ at right-back and can see the logic in playing him there to move O’Brien inside if needed.
“Everton have been without him for a while now, and it has been a concern,” said Stubbs while speaking to BBC Sport.
“We all thought he was going to be back realistically after the last international break, and that hasn’t happened, and then obviously the news broke about him having surgery on his hamstring.
“I suppose it’s good news and bad news because at least Everton have got to the root of the problem and he’s had an operation that will hopefully solve the issues he was encountering but, in the short-term, it’s bad news because we know how much Everton missed him.
“Unfortunately, the options are not great in terms of what we do now. Michael Keane’s come in and I must admit he’s done really well, very well with [James] Tarkowski. There’s the option of Jake O’Brien coming in, Seamus Coleman, James Garner, who’s done very well at either full-back, so there are options.
“The problem is square pegs in round holes, but I must admit Garner has had some of his best games at right-back if David Moyes does decide to put Jake O’Brien inside,” he added.
David Moyes should consider James Garner switch
Everton want to keep Garner after a strong start to the season, and Moyes knows that he can depend on the former Manchester United talent.
Garner’s versatility is key, and moving him to right-back isn’t the worst idea in the world.
We highlighted that Iliman Ndiaye can benefit from a more adventurous right-back playing behind him, opening up space down the right flank.
O’Brien is a centre-back at heart, whereas Garner can really get forward to support the attack – as we saw during his time as a left-back earlier this season.
Moving Garner to right-back also opens up opportunities to change Everton’s midfield.
Kieran Dewsbury-Hall could drop deeper to free up Carlos Alcaraz or Merlin Rohl as a number 10.
Rohl or Tim Iroegbunam could also slot into midfield, and while Everton are eyeing Mainz’s Anthony Caci, Garner could offer an instant solution at right-back.