Season › 2024-25 › News Villa trip will come too soon for Branthwaite Lyndon Lloyd 02/09/2024 14comments | Jump to last Neither Jarrad Branthwaite nor Nathan Patterson will be ready for when Everton's Premier League campaign resumes on the other side of the international break as the pair continue their respective recoveries from surgery. Branthwaite underwent a hernia operation over the summer to correct a problem that had been hampering him in the final few weeks of last season while Patterson needed to repair serious damage to his hamstring sustained when he came as a substitute at Chelsea in April. While Patterson is recovering from the more significant injury, it had been hoped that Branthwaite in particular, a big miss at the heart of the Blues' defence as Sean Dyche's side have made a horrendous start to 2024-25, would have been fit enough to return by now but lately there has been no public indication of the timing of when he will be fully fit. Everton plan to stage at least one behind-closed-doors friendly to help boost the fitness of certain other players, among them Dele Alli who is rumoured to be close to being awarded a short-term contract by the Club in a bid to kickstart his career after a lengthy absence, but Branthwaite and Patterson will be missing. Article continues below video content In his press conference after Saturday's shock defeat to Bourenemouth, Dyche was asked if either would be involved in any "bounce games" at Finch Farm for players not on international duty and he replied that, "they are not there yet". It means that neither player will feature in the Premier League clash with Aston Villa on 14 September and it's conceivable that October could be the first time either are back in action, although it is hoped Branthwaite isn't that far away. Reader Comments (14) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Mike Hayes 1 Posted 02/09/2024 at 15:15:53 No worries — bwe've got Young and Coleman.Fingers crossed they're fit soon. Pat Kelly 2 Posted 02/09/2024 at 16:02:39 Dele rumoured to be close. Sounds familiar. At least we're no longer paying him for nothing, so he can take a few more years if he likes.Patterson, does anyone expect he'll ever be fit enough to play a few consecutive games? Even if Dyche picked him. Rob Halligan 3 Posted 02/09/2024 at 16:38:52 Not what Ive heard about Branthwaite, but I suppose even the most reliable of sources can sometimes be wrong. Maybe Jarrad has had a minor relapse, putting him back a week or two? Brian Williams 4 Posted 02/09/2024 at 16:46:06 Rob, especially as JB's not even injured remember. Well according to Tommy Carter anyway. 🤣🤣🤣 Rob Halligan 5 Posted 02/09/2024 at 17:00:33 Was that because he was going to Man Utd, Brian? A few thought that being the case for Jarrads mysterious injury. 😁😁 Brian Williams 6 Posted 02/09/2024 at 17:04:33 Yes mate. It was stated on here that he categorically was not injured, that he'd agreed terms with Man U, and it was just a matter of sorting the small stuff. 🤣 Andy Crooks 7 Posted 02/09/2024 at 17:14:56 I keep forgetting about Dele. Seriously, his time may yet come. I full of optimism once more! It took a day longer than usual this time, but bring on Villa! Tony Waring 8 Posted 02/09/2024 at 17:42:48 It's understandable. A hernia operation is quite common but it takes a while to get back to ordinary pedestrian fitness. To return to premier division fitness is a different matter. It took me a good 6 weeks after the op before I could walk to the pub comfortably. !! Danny O’Neill 9 Posted 02/09/2024 at 18:04:28 Lets hope the international break gives him time to have a chance, but if hes had surgery, it could take longer. So, although I dont like predicting team, if I was choosing, for me, the centre backs would be Tarkowski and OBrien. Although Ive been saying, I think Tarkowski has been carrying an injury watching him. Christy Ring 10 Posted 02/09/2024 at 18:37:04 Braithwaite had a minor operation earlier this summer, but having missed all preseason training, it'll take awhile to get fully fit, but does Dyche not remember we signed Jake O'Brien and he still insists on playing Keane, who's stats showed he had less touches than Pickford on Saturday, and at 6'6 could have dealt with the crosses in the nightmare 9min's. Brian Williams 11 Posted 02/09/2024 at 18:42:31 Scored our first premier league goal of the season though. 😉 Brian Harrison 12 Posted 02/09/2024 at 18:59:01 Just read this on X posted by Grand Old TeamJuly 18th" Yeah its just a little injury I've had. I will be back with the team in the next week or so, its nothing major I cant wait to get back out there"July 27" Jarrad's making steps forward. He is not ready yet. He wont be back next week but should be after that"July 29"jarrad is slightly longer. He has had a longer process because he is coming back from a minor operation".July 30Jarrad is making progress as well but isn't quite there yet".Aug 3" He is making good progress all of a sudden, he had a slow spell but is beginning to move forward. Hopefully he will certainly be in and around it. I am not saying he will definitely be fit for GW1 but he will certainly be in and around it we hope".Aug 10"Still not here yet. I don't think he will be there for next Saturday. He still has work to do yet".Aug 15 " We were hoping a few would be back, but they are not. That is unfortunate".Aug 22" He is still a bit away. He is not close at the moment".So havent heard anything from Jarrad since the 18th July when he said minor operation will be back in a week or so. Something wrong somewhere, either the medical team don't know what they are doing or maybe something else going on that we don't know about. Tommy Hughes 13 Posted 02/09/2024 at 19:03:58 Not looking forward to this another 4 or 5 nil hammering. Never been so gutted supporting this club thanks moshiri you prat fuck off and take Dyche with you. Paul Ferry 14 Posted 02/09/2024 at 19:18:23 Hmmmm who do I trust in/believe? Rob Halligan or Sean Dyche? I think I'll run with Rob."In his press conference after Saturday's shock defeat to Bourenemouth, Dyche was asked if either would be involved in any "bounce games" at Finch Farm for players not on international duty and he replied that, "they are not there yet". It means that neither player will feature in the Premier League clash with Aston Villa on 14 September"No it doesn't. A break and thirteen days to go. No it doesn't. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb