Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Tue 17 March 2026 16:10, UK

Everton look to have been given a major boost over Jarrad Branthwaite’s fitness.

The defender was absent for the brutal 2-0 defeat by Arsenal last time out, despite David Moyes appearing to suggest he would be in contention at the Emirates Stadium.

Making matters worse, James Tarkowski, the Blues’ other first-choice centre-half, was also ruled out in North London, leaving Jake O’Brien to partner Michael Keane.

With his bid for Europe still alive, Moyes will be desperate for Branthwaite to return, and there is good news with one insider suggesting his issue is nothing more than minor.

When will Jarrad Branthwaite return for Everton?

Branthwaite’s availability has been closely assessed by fitness staff at Hill Dickinson Stadium after a hamstring injury saw him miss the first five months of the season.

While Moyes did not confirm the reason behind his omission last weekend, the 23-year-old is likely to have been rested as part of his workload management.

He had played 90 minutes in three of the last four Premier League matches before the loss in the capital, a giant stride after he was made to sit out the first 22 top-flight fixtures.

Now, however, Patrick Boyland, The Athletic’s Everton correspondent, has claimed that there is no significant concern around the availability of both Tarkowski and Branthwaite.

Boyland told The Blue Room: “I’m aware of the rumours on Branthwaite, but I haven’t heard anything to suggest that the Branthwaite one right now is particularly bad either.

“It was obviously a massive blow late on [ahead of the Arsenal match].”

That will be a major relief for Moyes, but O’Brien and Keane will remain on standby.

Michael Keane future in doubt

As it stands, veteran Keane is set to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season.

This, though, would be a travesty. The 33-year-old did not put a foot wrong against Arsenal and did not deserve to find himself on the losing side.

He was outstanding during the first half of the campaign, forming a solid understanding with Tarkowski, but then found himself making way for Branthwaite after his return.

While he has made it clear that he wants to stay, Keane may be losing patience after slipping down the pecking order, and this could cause him to reconsider his future.

Moyes would do well to arrange a sit-down to convince him otherwise.