Everton youngster Jarrad Branthwaite gives Sean Dyche reason to smile as top-of-the-pile statistic emerges
Everton manager Sean Dyche hasn’t had many reasons to smile this season, with his club on just one point after four matches.
Their very poor record – which includes one draw and three losses – puts them in 18th place in the Premier League table.
There has, however, been at least one bright spark at Goodison Park this season, and that involves young defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
The 21-year-old had to wait until the third league match of the new campaign to get some minutes on the pitch, but he was then handed the entire 180 minutes from the next two fixtures.
And given his displays against both Wolves and Sheffield United, it will take something extraordinary for the defender to be removed from the starting XI.
As per the official Premier League website (14 September), no other centre-back in the competition is averaging more possession regains than Branthwaite, who also ranks joint-second for the most aerial duels won per 90 minutes.
Moreover, among the 87 defenders who have started at least two matches so far, the Toffees ace is one of only 12 who are yet to be dribbled past by an opponent.
Things will, of course, be brought up a notch in his next potential game, with the Merseyside outfit hosting title-chasing Arsenal on Sunday (17 September).
Coming up against the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka will be Branthwaite’s biggest test yet in an Everton shirt, but he may just overcome the odds and come out on top in those battles at Goodison.
In other Everton news, a BBC journalist has mooted a rejuvenated career for one Toffees loanee after his “no-brainer” Goodison Park exit.