Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is aiming to make a late push to be included in England's World Cup squad this summer
Lewis Dunk and Jarrad Branthwaite during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina
Lewis Dunk and Jarrad Branthwaite during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina(Image: (Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
View Image
Jarrad Branthwaite has not given up hope of making England’s World Cup squad despite starting only three Premier League games this season. The Everton centre-back sustained a significant hamstring problem during pre-season and a setback resulted in surgery in October.
And although Branthwaite has returned to action in recent weeks, he is yet to receive a call-up from Thomas Tuchel during his time in charge of the Three Lions. But the centre-back believes a late call-up for this summer’s tournament is still viable, as he hopes to end this campaign on a high.
“It’s got to be [the goal],” he said. “That was my aim at the start of the season. It's going to be difficult.
*FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE!Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page*
“I think the only thing I can do is go out there and put on good performances every game and give myself the best possible chance.”
Branthwaite’s solitary England appearance was as a substitute against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024 and he admits that he has found the campaign “very disappointing”.
He said: “To miss all the time I’ve missed this season has had a huge impact on the momentum I had in the last couple of years.
“Hopefully I’m past that now and I can get a good momentum going, stay injury-free and push for the World Cup squad.
“That was my aim at the start of the season. It’s going to be difficult. The only thing I can do is put on good performances every game and give myself the best possible chance.”
Before he continued: “I've been out for so long and haven't played much football, so it's down to me and my performances to give myself the best possible chance to be in and around it.
“I've been in and around the England squads. It would just be a dream to go and play at the World Cup and be there.
"But, like I said, it's down to my performances from now until the end of the season to give myself that chance.”
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
Content cannot be displayed without consent