Jarrad Branthwaite feels that completing a full 90 minutes with Everton Under-21s was exactly what he needed after a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to injury.
The 22-year-old defender, who has been out of action since the summer with a groin problem, has yet to make an appearance in the 2024/25 campaign, following his standout performance at the heart of Everton’s defence last season.
Reflecting on his return to the pitch, Branthwaite expressed his appreciation to be playing again but admitted to ‘taking it day-by-day’. Speaking to evertontv about his journey back to match fitness, he remarked: “I feel good. It’s good to get out there and get minutes under my belt.
“I’m thankful to be able to come down and play with the ’21s, and obviously, get a win as well which is always nice on your return.
“It was a good game – entertaining. [It was] end-to-end, which is what I needed for my match fitness to get up to speed.
“To get out there, get my minutes, get my match fitness. There are still high-quality players out on the pitch, so it’s just about getting minutes and then taking it day by day.”
Meanwhile, Nathan Patterson, who is also on the recovery path from injury, played 60 minutes for Paul Tait’s young squad over the weekend.