Jarrad Branthwaite fitness update ahead of Everton clash v West Ham. Credit: Imago
Jarrad Branthwaite fitness update ahead of Everton clash v West Ham. Credit: Imago
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Chris Beesley shares Jarrad Branthwaite fitness update ahead of West Ham v Everton

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Jarrad Branthwaite is fully fit and available before Everton travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham on Saturday, Chris Beesley understands.

The 22-year-old defender has been part of Sean Dyche's squad for the last two matches, coming on as a substitute in the final five minutes of both ties with Fulham and Southampton.

Following the 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday 2 November, questions were raised over the decision, and now fans are calling for the young defender to start on 9 November.

Speaking via the Royal Blue podcast on YouTube [4 November], Beesley said: "I understand that he's fully fit now and wants to get back in and regain match sharpness. He should've been back in there [v Southampton]."

Jarrad Branthwaite must start in Everton clash v West Ham

Dyche now has no excuse not to restore Branthwaite back to the starting XI after the 1-0 defeat at St Mary's Stadium at the weekend, having cited the backline's good form for no changes.

The defensive duo of James Tarkowski and Michael Keane is clearly not working as well as Dyche would like, with the Toffees' six-game unbeaten streak now ended by a relegation-threatened side.

While the Hammers are in desperately poor form under new head coach Julen Lopetegui, their squad has the potential to hurt the Toffees, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio in the final third.

Sean Dyche Everton
Everton manager Sean Dyche [Credit: Imago]

Bringing Branthwaite back into the centre of defence would be a perfect addition before travelling to the London Stadium, especially if he is fully fit and just waiting on the bench for the final few moments.

All three points against the Hammers would be a much-needed victory for Dyche's side, given they are only four points above the relegation zone at this moment in time.

In other Everton news, Micah Richards reacted to MOTD footage of a controversial moment v Southampton.

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Everton
Jarrad Branthwaite
Chris Beesley
West Ham
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