David Moyes has Everton ‘nightmare’ with Jarrad Branthwaite in double injury blow
David Moyes will be without Jarrad Branthwaite as Everton face Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday.
Everton will take on Leeds at Elland Road on 18 August as they open their 2025/26 campaign in the English top flight.
Branthwaite won’t feature for Moyes after suffering a hamstring injury in training, and the Scottish manager wasn’t pleased about the information being leaked.
Moyes will now have to arguably change his plans for the game against the Whites with the Merseyside outfit’s backline compromised.
Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko injuries not convenient for Everton
Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko’s injuries are a nightmare for the Toffees ahead of the Leeds fixture, Joe Thomas says.
The Liverpool Echo journalist feels not everything has gone to plan for the Blues despite the unveiling of the Hill Dickinson Stadium and the signings of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish.
Moyes will undoubtedly be worried about their prospects against the newly-promoted side, as he may have to rely on a reshuffled defence at Elland Road.
Thomas wrote in the Liverpool Echo on 16 August: “For all the pride at the wonderful glimpse of Hill Dickinson Stadium last weekend, and the exhilaration of welcoming silverware-clad Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish, this summer has not quite gone to plan — not yet, anyway.
“The injuries on the eve of the campaign to Branthwaite and Mykolenko are a nightmare.”
Read More: Everton have next signing in Yves Bissouma as Moyes ‘not pleased’
Michael Keane or Jake O’Brien: Who replaces Branthwaite vs Leeds?
Michael Keane stayed at Bramley-Moore Dock this summer after extending his contract for another season.
The English centre-back was a key player for Sean Dyche last season when Branthwaite was out injured, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start against Leeds alongside James Tarkowski.
Moyes could also potentially use Jake O’Brien as a centre-back after the Irishman became the Scottish manager’s go-to player on the right side of defence in the previous campaign.
| Date | Venue | Result |
| 18 February 2023 | Home | 1-0 win |
| 30 August 2022 | Away | 1-1 draw |
| 12 February 2022 | Home | 3-0 win |
| 21 August 2021 | Away | 2-2 draw |
| 3 February 2021 | Away | 2-1 win |
| 28 November 2020 | Home | 1-0 loss |
Everton still have Nathan Patterson on their books, and the former Rangers ace has featured heavily for them during pre-season.
It feels like the best option for Moyes would arguably be to trust O’Brien as his right-back, with Keane and Tarkowski partnering in the centre of defence.
Adam Aznou could potentially make his competitive debut for the Blues as a replacement for Mykolenko.
It will be interesting to see how the Merseysiders will perform with all the new faces in the team.
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