Branthwaite keen to keep grounded after flying start
JARRAD BRANTHWAITE is happy to admit that, had he not played a starring role in Everton’s recent meeting with Chelsea, his immediate future might have looked very different.
Starting at Stamford Bridge as a result of a Toffees injury crisis, the teenage defender went on to score the equaliser in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Thomas Tuchel’s title-chasers.
And, as well as providing an immeasurable boost to his profile, that goal is likely to ensure Branthwaite remains at Goodison Park in the short term.
Asked if he had previously been making plans for a January loan move, the 19-year-old said: “Yes, I was speaking to the manager.
“The plan for any young player is that you have to play – and before the game against Chelsea I hadn’t played much.
“I played against Huddersfield in the cup and in the odd Under-23s game. I was going to go out on loan in the second half of the season but, with me playing that game and Covid and things, we just have to see what happens in the coming weeks.
“I would much rather stay here and play games and take my chance and keep showing the manager what I can do.”
Although his chance came as a result of manager Rafael Benitez’s options being severely hampered by fitness issues Branthwaite, who arrived from his boyhood club Carlisle United in January 2020, hopes he has done enough to earn more regular involvement.
He is desperate to remain at the forefront of his manager’s thoughts.
And he added: “It’s given me a lot of confidence. I know that I can do it.
“Now it’s for me to just, in each training session, keep improving, keep showing the manager that I’m there, I’m willing to do it, I’m good enough to do it.’’ Of course, Benitez was keen to ensure his young charge didn’t get ahead of himself.
Branthwaite added: “He said enjoy the moment but he was also telling me about things that I could have improved on.
“He was keeping me humble – which I was always going to do. But I appreciate that he was just basically giving me pointers.”