John Aldridge gets it wrong with Jarrad Branthwaite England prediction after Everton loss v Liverpool
Pundit John Aldridge has predicted Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite to start for England in the future, with the Toffees youngster now a regular under Sean Dyche having spent last season on loan at PSV.
In the Netherlands, the centre-back undoubtedly progressed his career, coming up against many top players both domestically and in Europe.
Such development has landed him a spot at the back alongside veteran James Tarkowski, who is undoubtedly a superb role model for Branthwaite.
The 21-year-old has helped Everton pick up some vital points this season, with the backline impressing somewhat, with most of Dyche’s struggles coming at the other end of the pitch.
The youngster has also impressed on the international stage, having played started both of the England Under-21 matches in the recent break.
Branthwaite’s displays for both club and country are now earning plenty of plaudits, with pundit Aldridge predicting big things for the defender.
“I don’t want to upset any Evertonians by saying this, and whether Liverpool would buy from Everton is another matter as it rarely happens, but I certainly think he has got the ability to go on and become a leading figure and a starter for England,” Aldridge wrote for the Liverpool Echo (24 October).
Everton selling the defender to their fiercest rivals is extremely unlikely, but another unlikely scenario is Branthwaite becoming a regular England starter.
The major reason for this is that all starting positions in the Three Lions squad are extremely competitive, and that is certainly the case at centre-back.
When it comes to fellow youth internationals, Leeds United youngster Charlie Cresswell and Southampton ace Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who is on loan from Manchester City, will also be eyeing a spot in the senior squad soon enough.
But worryingly for that duo and Branthwaite, current boss Gareth Southgate already has a long, long list of central defenders, who moreover don’t look like being budged anytime soon.
The manager has called upon the likes of Harry Maguire, John Stones, Lewis Dunk and Fikayo Tomori in recent matches, with Levi Colwill and Marc Guehi also on the scene.
In other Everton news, a BBC Sport journalist has blasted an “inexplicable” incident in the Merseyside Derby defeat to Liverpool.