Anjishnu Roy 17/10/2025 14comments  |  Jump to last

Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Röhl have returned to group training as Everton prepare for their assignment against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Branthwaite, who committed his long-term future with the club after signing a new deal this summer, is yet to play an official game this season while Röhl, signed from Freiburg on loan, made just one appearance off the bench before getting injured.

However, Nathan Patterson’s injury-riddled spell continues as he picked up another knock during the Under-21s' EFL Trophy match against Bradford City in midweek, a game Dwight McNeil and Adam Aznou also featured in.

"Jarrad [Branthwaite] is back on the grass, Merlin [Röhl] is back on the grass, unfortunately Patto [Patterson] picked up an injury for the Under-21s in midweek, so we've got bits and pieces going on but all the clubs will be the same,” David Moyes said in the pre-match press conference.

The Everton boss will be unable to count on star man Jack Grealish, who won’t be available to face his parent side. However, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is expected to slot straight back into the starting XI after missing the last game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

"Everyone has players coming back from international duty, trying to get them ready and finding out what condition they're in. We're no different from anybody else.

"Jack [Grealish] will be a miss for us because he's played so well but we knew that when we came to play Manchester City, so it's not expected.

"We'll rejig, get ready and get ready to go against Man City.

"Kiernan is back after a ridiculous two bookings got him suspended but, thankfully, we had a great win against Crystal Palace without him in the team. We'll have him back in and amongst it, that's for sure."

The international break was a busy period for the club as they tied down two important squad members - James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford - to new deals. Tarkowski has signed a new contract through to 2028 while Pickford is to stay at the club until at least 2029.

Speaking about the contract extensions, Moyes added, "I'm really pleased. It's good news we got Jordan and James Tarkowski signed, and Jarrad in the summer as well.

"I'm pleased. I think they've been three players who have made a big difference to the team, certainly since I came in I think they've done a good job.

"I had [Pickford] at Sunderland and I always thought he was going to be a top goalkeeper. He was very, very good as a young goalkeeper and he's continued to develop throughout his career."

Moyes was asked about winger Joel Catesby who also sustained a really nasty injury while he was playing for Everton U21s in the 5-1 Vertu Trophy defeat at Bradford City on Tuesday , with Moyes in attendance.

The Birkenhead-born prospect who has been with the Blues since the age of 4 underwent lengthy treatment on the pitch at Valley Parade following a challenge by Brad Halliday in which it appeared he may have broken his ankle. Apparently, the club are still unable to provide an accurate update.

 

Reader Comments (14)

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Andy Macrae
1 Posted 17/10/2025 at 14:26:34
I wonder if Moyes will consider Röhl up top, similar to how he did with Fellaini?
Edward Rogers
2 Posted 17/10/2025 at 14:44:23
The quicker we get Jarrad fit & ready, the better.

Full credit to Keane for his performances so far, but we have to get Branthwaite in as soon and as safely as we can.

Christy Ring
3 Posted 17/10/2025 at 14:52:43
Jarrad will make a huge difference because we won't have to defend so deep with his pace.

But he needs to be managed properly, especially because of the same hamstring injury again. I still think he must have had a setback to be out so long.

Paul Kossoff
4 Posted 17/10/2025 at 16:23:56
When compared with City's John Stones, Lewis Dunk of Brighton, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Maguire,Branthwaite's top speed of 35.1 km/h makes him the fastest.

His tackles per match of 1.9, clean sheet average of 0.4 per match and minutes played of 3,117 lead the way against the others, and places him eighth out of all Premier League central defenders.

Mike Gaynes
5 Posted 17/10/2025 at 17:40:25
PK, the fastest player in the world right now is Micky van de Ven.
Mike Gaynes
6 Posted 17/10/2025 at 17:47:08
A bit off-topic, but here are some quotes from Doucoure in today's Athletic, from an interview with Paddy Boyle:

“I always gave 100 per cent. I know it was not that beautiful or perfect, but I did my duty for the club. I helped them fight and I left a very good image of myself there.

“Even when we struggled, I really enjoyed wearing the blue shirt. I will always be very proud to have played for Everton.”

“Dyche was the manager who impacted me the most. He came at a very critical point. In this kind of moment, you just have to be tough. I knew I had a strong mentality but after that, I discovered even more of myself. In three or four months, everything changed.

“The problem at the end with Sean was that he is very pragmatic, very straight. Sometimes he said things that the fans didn't appreciate and they would respond on social media. Like (Rafa) Benitez, he was always coming to an end at some point. As soon as the results got worse, everyone was going to turn.

“I was sad for him because he didn't deserve to be remembered like that.”

“Sean was very tough. Sometimes players can't cope with a tough manager and that was the problem. Moyes can be tough sometimes, too, but he doesn't care about the outside details. He just wants people to train well and give everything to win games.“

Pat Kelly
7 Posted 17/10/2025 at 21:22:01
Sicknote Patterson out again.

There's a surprise. No loss.

Tony Abrahams
8 Posted 17/10/2025 at 21:35:33
Interesting, Mike, and this is something I became aware of when Dyche started to come out with a few things that were never going to please a lot of Evertonians.

Social media is a very powerful tool but my guess is that it probably only accounts for about 2% of the views of the match going fan. (Maybe it's more; maybe ToffeeWeb could run a poll on how many of us are fortunate enough to be able to get to see the game live inside the stadium.)

Maybe if Dyche could have shut himself away from social media, he might have begun to realise that a lot of fans actually appreciated the job he had done before his ill-fated final season.

We have missed Branthwaite and I also thought Röhl showed a lot of promise in his only cameo to date. The more good players we can get fit, then the stronger the squad should become.

If Moyes can turn his best XI into his best XVI, then I'm sure the team will really benefit -- that is probably what I'm trying to say!

Andy Meighan
9 Posted 17/10/2025 at 22:01:32
Why is that clown Dyche still revered on here like some sort of messiah? Under him, we played some of the worst football I've ever seen in 60 years of going to Goodison... and away from there as well.

It got that bad under him, I honestly thought that we'd never score a goal home or away. Going the game was a miserable existence like you wouldn't believe.

The day he was sacked was one of the happiest times I've had as an Evertonian, and thats saying something considering we employed a dinosaur of an ex-shite manager.

So an ex-player who has no feeling for the club has said good things about him. Yes, and your point is?

Andy Crooks
10 Posted 17/10/2025 at 22:06:52
Pat, are you implying that Patterson is somehow responsible for this? Why use a pejorative term like 'sicknote?

You appear to dislike him. If it's no loss, why comment?

Robert Tressell
11 Posted 17/10/2025 at 22:43:43
I'm looking forward to seeing Röhl develop with us.
Paul Kossoff
12 Posted 17/10/2025 at 22:51:21
Mike @5.

I meant the fastest out of John Stones, Lewis Dunk of Brighton, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Maguire. Not the world's fastest.

If I had meant he was the world's fastest, I would have said he was the world's fastest, wouldn't I?

Annika Herbert
13 Posted 17/10/2025 at 00:02:33
Mike @ 5, the fastest player in the world is actually Kylian Mbappe, according to World Stats.

Just ahead of the Spurs player. Not sure if that's just a one-timed sprint though.

But in the rankings I read, Mbappe ranks tops.

Mark Taylor
14 Posted 18/10/2025 at 00:16:25
It will be good if Jarrad and Merlin are ready for the bench but I don't think we should risk Jarrad if we can avoid it.

Without Jack, do we just swap Ndiaye back to the left and play Dibling on the right? Big ask given he was hooked last time after 45 minutes -- and by Moyes of all people who generally keeps his hook hidden until at least 70 minutes.

If Dewsbury-Hall plays (and Moyes pretty much has confirmed that) what about Charly? He really doesn't play so well on the flanks (but that might not stop Moyes). Maybe an impact sub again...

God knows who starts up front. Buggins choice. I guess Beto for nuisance value.

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