---
title: "Branthwaite likely to start vs Lille in final fitness step before Palace opener"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/branthwaite-likely-to-start-vs-lille-in-final-fitness-step-before-palace-opener/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-08-15T09:10:15Z"
modified: "2026-08-15T09:10:16Z"
---

# Branthwaite likely to start vs Lille in final fitness step before Palace opener

**Jarrad Branthwaite is set to start for [Everton against Lille this afternoon](https://readeverton.com/2026/08/14/everton-lille-preview-team-news-how-to-watch/), 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](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2026/august/12/newcastle-report/#:~:text=Thierno%20Barry's%20fine%20all%2Dround,over%20Newcastle%20United%20in%20Edinburgh.).

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](https://readeverton.com/2026/08/15/everton-fixtures-results-2026-27/), again at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

[Read Everton](https://readeverton.com/) will cover the game, with a match report and Moyes quotes later.