'From conversations that I've had' - Journalist expects Everton star to miss clash v Brighton

Joe Thomas has admitted he doesn’t expect Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite to be fit for the Toffees’ Premier League opener against Brighton.

Sean Dyche’s side get their season underway on Saturday (17 August) against the Seagulls at Goodison Park and the Blues boss had admitted there was a chance the defender could still be sidelined.

Branthwaite hasn’t featured for the Toffees in pre-season having undergone minor groin surgery and while Liverpool Echo journalist Thomas thinks he’s close to a return, he thinks the clash with Brighton will come too soon.

Speaking on the Royal Blue YouTube channel (12 August, 50:10) he said: “From conversations that I’ve had, I don’t think he’s going to be ready for Brighton.

“I don’t think he’s a million miles off, I think we will see him in the early stages of the season and obviously Dyche is desperate to have him back.”

Will Jarrad Branthwaite exit Everton after new injury update?

As Thomas suggests, Dyche will be desperate to have Branthwaite fit and available for the start of the new season given his excellent performances alongside James Tarkowski over the course of the last year.

But the Toffees boss will know that it isn’t worth rushing the 22-year-old back for the sake of one game, especially now that Jake O’Brien is available to deputise alongside the Blues’ skipper.

In a roundabout way, the defender’s injury setback could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Dyche’s side as it may well boost their chances of keeping him at Goodison as interested clubs are unlikely to sign an injured player.

While Everton will be keen to get off to the perfect start in their final season at Goodison Park, the opening weekend won’t determine what happens this season.

Hopefully, it won’t be too long before Branthwaite will be back in a Toffees shirt starring alongside Tarkowski, but it would come as a shock if he were named in the starting XI on Saturday.

In other Everton news, Manchester United are understood to be holding internal talks over a transfer for Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer

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