The centre back praised David Moyes as he looked to the future - for him and Everton
Jarrad Branthwaite in action during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Jarrad Branthwaite in action during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Jarrad Branthwaite has backed himself to overcome his injury problems and keep getting better.
The 23-year-old’s season has been disrupted by hamstring issues, forcing him to watch most of an extraordinary first campaign at Hill Dickinson Stadium from the sidelines. He could yet have a part to play in a successful year after fighting back from surgery to make himself available for the run-in.
Everton will approach the last seven games with qualification for Europe within reach after the recent win over Chelsea, in which Branthwaite came off the bench to see out, moved the Blues just three points of the likely Champions League spots.
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In a message to supporters, issued via Everton, Branthwaite said Europe had been the goal this season despite it being Everton’s first in years without serious fears of a relegation fight. While that may have appeared ambitious at the start of the campaign, David Moyes and his players have taken advantage of a chaotic season to put themselves in contention with fewer than two months left to play.
Branthwaite said: “We - as a collective - have made no secret that our goal this season is to get back into a European competition. It’s an ambitious one after some tough years but we all believe we have the quality to do so and the target is still there for us as we approach the final part of the season.”
The centre back praised Moyes for bringing the club's “identity” back and suggested Everton was a place where it was now possible to look forward to what the future could hold. Branthwaite’s six years at the club had been characterised by survival fights and off-the-pitch turmoil but the December 2024 takeover by the Friedkin Group has provided stability. His decision to sign a new deal in the summer was seen as a major coup by the new regime with the defender deemed crucial to the club’s desire to move forward.
Branthwaite has bought into the idea of chasing real progress. He said: “It’s right that we keep looking up now, and keep setting targets that move us forward as a club. It felt like the beginning of a new chapter heading into this season: a new home, our new owners, the manager beginning his first full season since returning.
“We want to keep making progress and, ultimately, deliver success. I’ve been here for six years and I’ve seen a lot in that time but it all feels genuinely positive right now. Long may it continue.
“As a player, you think about winning trophies and to be part of a side that ends Everton’s wait for one would be absolutely massive. This isn’t a team or a club that will be fighting against relegation any more, we want success. I feel like the way the club is going, the way the manager is trying to build a team, build an identity, we can definitely achieve that in the next couple of years.”
And on his personal ambitions, he said: “I am 23 years old now and I think I’ve still got loads more to go in terms of my levels. People ask me how far I think I am off my best after the injury but, honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever reached my ‘best’ yet, because I’ve got plenty of years to reach my prime. I will keep learning, keep pushing myself and do everything I can to help this team.”
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