Jarrad Branthwaite is set to start for Everton against Lille this afternoon, in what looks like the final stop in his recovery before David Moyes settles on his back-line for the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
The centre-back has been carefully managed through pre-season following the hamstring injury that ended his 2025/26 campaign early.
He captained the side and played 80 minutes against Stuttgart, having also started against Bolton Wanderers and Hamburg, before being rested as a precaution for the win over Newcastle in Edinburgh.
Today’s appearance at the Hill Dickinson — Everton’s final fixture before the Palace game on 22 August — represents the last opportunity for Moyes to assess Branthwaite’s fitness under matchday conditions before naming his side for the competitive opener.
The 23-year-old is expected to line up alongside James Tarkowski in the heart of Everton’s defence, with Moyes having steadily increased his workload across the summer rather than risk a setback so close to the new season.
Should Branthwaite come through the Lille match unscathed, he looks set to be involved from the opening weekend as Everton begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign, again at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Read Everton will cover the game, with a match report and Moyes quotes later.
