Gareth Southgate has headache as Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite handed ‘dream debut’
Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite has finally been handed his England debut after coming on as a substitute against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Monday (3 June).
The 21-year-old earned his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad in March as the Three Lions faced Brazil and Belgium but was one of the few players not to make it off the bench.
Replacing Marc Guehi after the hour-mark at St James’ Park on Monday, the defender was finally rewarded for his standout season for Goodison Park, showing exactly why Sean Dyche loves him so much.
Taking to Instagram on Monday (3 June), Branthwaite wrote: “England debut. Dream come true.”
Despite playing just 28 minutes, injuries would suggest that Southgate has a difficult decision to make about his starting centre-backs ahead of the EURO 2024 competition in Germany this summer.
Jarrad Branthwaite finally rewarded for Everton displays
Branthwaite brought an exemplary performance to the pitch, maintaining a 95 per cent passing accuracy for England while taking 22 touches, and completing 100 per cent of his attempted long balls. [FotMob]
While he picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge, with his no-nonsense defending coming into play, he also competed in four aerial duels, made two recoveries and made one interception.
Compared to centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, the young defender ranks in the top 79 percentile for tackles, the top 82 percentile for interceptions and the top 82 percentile for aerials won. [FBref]
With Guehi often compared to the Evertonian as a cheap transfer alternative this summer, Southgate will have a difficult decision to make come the summer, especially if Harry Maguire or John Stones are unavailable.
Branthwaite has certainly done enough to start for the Three Lions this summer, let alone travel on the plane, though Southgate could be apprehensive due to his combined experience.
However, with only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool conceding fewer goals than the defensive trio of Branthwaite, Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski in the Premier League this season, it seems like a no-brainer for the manager.
In other Everton news, a takeover “victory” has sparked calls to remove Farhad Moshiri from the club’s board.
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