Everton have been hit with some frustrating news as Jarrad Branthwaite has suffered another injury.
Just as things seemed to be heading in the right direction at Everton, the Blues have been hit with a real sucker punch.
David Moyes had seen Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall signed on Merseyside over the last week.
The Toffees begin their 2025/26 Premier League campaign on Monday night away to Leeds United where they will run into a familiar face.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to join Leeds, but Everton are going to be without Branthwaite who has suffered a hamstring injury.
This is a development which will really put Everton’s transfer plans under scrutiny, with an early timeline on Branthwaite’s absence already raising some concerns.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Jarrad Branthwaite set to miss six weeks through injury
On Wednesday evening, reports were emerging that Branthwaite had suffered a hamstring injury during an Everton training session.
No official word has surfaced from the club, yet.
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According to the Daily Mail, the early prognosis is not looking great with Branthwaite set to miss the early stages of the season.
Branthwaite was forced to limp out of the training session at Finch Farm.
It is already being suggested that Branthwaite could be out until the end of September after aggravating the same hamstring that saw him miss the end of last season.
Branthwaite missed Everton’s pre-season tour through injury, with the ‘minor’ issue seemingly cleared having played on the weekend against AS Roma.
However, this development is now going to put a real strain on Moyes’ defensive options, with their Carabao Cup campaign also set to begin this month.
What games Branthwaite could miss through injury
Michael Keane extended his spell at Everton over the summer with a new deal. A move which Everton fans will surely be thankful for now.
But it does raise the question whether Everton need to enter the market and strengthen their options at the back, particularly at right-back.
Another setback for Branthwaite is going to see him potentially miss some key games for Everton:
Leeds United (A)
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
Mansfield (H) [Carabao Cup]
Wolves (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Liverpool (A)
West Ham (H)
Jake O’Brien could return to his natural position, but that will require Everton to add a new right-back, with Nathan Patterson also suffering through injury.