The Blues boss trusts Michael Keane and it is difficult to see him deviating from the experienced centre back at West Ham United
Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton reacts on the floor with an injury (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton reacts on the floor with an injury (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
View Image
David Moyes will have to consider how to deal with the likely loss of Jarrad Branthwaite when Everton travel to West Ham United.
The centre back left the pitch in tears after pulling up in the final minutes of the Merseyside derby. It was a cruel blow for the 23-year-old, who needed to be stretchered off after pulling up following an innocuous tussle with Cody Gakpo.
Branthwaite has already missed a significant chunk of the campaign due to hamstring injuries, undergoing surgery after a setback in his recovery earlier this season.
While the full extent of his injury is yet to be confirmed, the defender left Hill Dickinson Stadium in a brace and David Moyes admitted after the game that he was “worried” about a player central to Everton’s plans for the future.
FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE!Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page
Moyes’ has already revealed his hand in terms of dealing with Branthwaite being unavailable and it is hard to see him deviating from using Michael Keane in his place.
Keane has been an effective replacement for Branthwaite and has been Everton’s most consistent defender this season.
He does change the balance at the back, however. Branthwaite’s pace allows the Everton backline to push higher up the pitch and James Tarkowski typically looks more assured alongside him.
Moyes could replicate what Branthwaite does by moving the similarly pacey Jake O’Brien from right back to the middle. He has been excellent in his preferred position when called upon this season.
That would require Moyes to change his approach to the centre back pairings and either bring in Nathan Patterson to right back or move James Garner there and introduce Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl or Harrison Armstrong to the starting XI.
He opted against those solutions in the final stages against Liverpool.
Beyond those issues at the back, further changes are unlikely unless they are enforced.
Beto came off against Liverpool after suffering a head injury and his replacement, Thierno Barry, did little to challenge for more minutes while Dwight McNeil has been favoured on the wing over Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling over recent weeks.
He did play a role in Mohamed Salah’s opener but George, though he had a good cameo at Brentford, struggled to make an impact against Liverpool.