David Moyes accepts he will need to be pragmatic as he handles Jarrad Branthwaite's fitness but is hopeful he will remain an important player this season
Jarrad Branthwaite during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James' Park. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Jarrad Branthwaite during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James' Park. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
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David Moyes is hopeful Jarrad Branthwaite can continue to play an important role in the final two months of Everton's season.
The centre-back did not join his team-mates on a warm weather training camp in Portugal during the club’s break in fixtures as the FA Cup took centre stage.
There is an acceptance his minutes will need to be handled with care but also belief he can still play a significant role in the Blues' pursuit of European football.
Everton returned to the same Algarve campus they visited for a similar break with Sean Dyche as Moyes sought better conditions for his players to train in. On the value of the getaway, he explained: “We thought the weather was rubbish. The pitches and the training grounds are very difficult at the moment. So we wanted to try and get a couple of days away and we did that.”
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Branthwaite was not part of that group and had been taken off late in the win over Burnley after a short period limping. He did not head straight down the tunnel, however, and returned to the pitch on the final whistle to celebrate the win with his team-mates.
His involvement in those scenes, coupled with Moyes’ post-match comments when asked by the ECHO about Branthwaite's substitution, provided a degree of reassurance over the condition of a player who missed the first five months of the campaign with hamstring problems.
Moyes said at the time: “He's okay, it's probably a lot for Jarrad to go two games in a short time, so we just need to check. He was a bit fatigued by the end, Jarrad."
Branthwaite had also played in the win at Newcastle United four days earlier, the biggest test of his stamina since he came off the bench to make his first appearance of the season against Leeds United in late January.
The recovery time afforded by the 11-day gap between Burnley and Saturday evening’s trip to Arsenal was a factor in Moyes selecting him twice and the Blues boss left the door open for the possibility of the 23-year-old being involved at the Emirates, stating on Friday: “Jarrad, we think, will be OK.”
But he conceded that the England international would have to be managed according to the advice of team fitness staff as he continues to build on his return from what had been a long absence.
Moyes later said: “I think that people have to accept that that's probably a bit of the way it will be with Jarrad at different times, but we can see the importance of him to us, so hopefully we will get as many games out of him as we possibly can between now and the end of the season.”
Another player dealing with fitness issues is [Carlos Alcaraz](http://Carlos Alcaraz), who remains sidelined but is making progress on his return.
The attacking midfielder suffered a muscle injury in the hip area when taking a shot with his left foot in training the day before Everton hosted Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium last month.
Moyes said: “He's doing really well, Charlie. He's a really good boy behind the scenes. He's desperate to be fit and play and get himself out there. So he's very close.”