Branthwaite injured again, Everton face battle ahead of Newcastle - report

Jarrad Branthwaite is believed to have picked up a new injury at Everton and is facing a battle to be fit to face Newcastle, according to Lewis Steele.

The Daily Mail journalist reported via X on 3 October the centre-back has a quad issue and is now a concern for the weekend’s Premier League fixture.

Branthwaite only just returned from offseason surgery as the Toffees picked up their first win of the season against Crystal Palace on 28 September.

Eddie Howe’s Magpies travel to Goodison Park for the 5.30pm kick off on Saturday 5 October.

Everton star in race to be fit for Goodison Park clash

It is surely no coincidence that Branthwaite’s return to the line-up saw Dyche’s men pick up their first win of the campaign so if he is forced to miss more time it would be a major blow.

The manager’s job has been called into question following a miserable start to the season without the England international so it is the last thing the former Burnley boss will have needed just as he looks to get things back on track.

The 22-year-old featuring at least, a first win, and the announcement of the Dan Friedkin takeover had constituted a hugely positive set of developments for Evertonians.

And while the American buying out Farhad Moshiri surely remains the key boost there isn’t much leeway for the on-pitch situation to take a setback already.

Michael Keane came under fire [Simon Jordan via talkSPORT, 16 September, 10.15am] as Dyche regularly preferred his former Burnley man at centre-back alongside James Tarkowski while Branthwaite was out.

Fans are likely to want to see summer signing Jake O’Brien elevated to the starting line-up if the star man misses out.

The transfer window was dominated by threats of a potential Branthwaite sale as Manchester United were rejected twice, and links with Liverpool have since cropped up, but so far Everton have been forced to contend without him for fitness reasons and it has proven how important he is to this side.

In other Everton news, Kieran Maguire has mooted a “crucial” deal for The Friedkin Group as the takeover advances.

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