David Moyes
Everton’s recent Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended in a dramatic 2-1 defeat, with Virgil van Dijk scoring a last-minute winner. However, the match also brought significant injury woes for the Toffees. Key players Jarrad Branthwaite and Beto were forced off the pitch, and manager David Moyes has now confirmed that both will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
David Moyes said: “Beto has concussion and will miss this week’s game. Jarrad will be out for the season, but then obviously we’ve got a long close season, so he’s got plenty of time to get himself fit and ready to start next season. But he won’t be fit to play again this season.”
Moyes further elaborated on Branthwaite’s condition, explaining that while the injury is a new hamstring issue, it is not related to the previous surgery that kept him out for five months earlier in the season.
David Moyes said: “He’s much better because he’s realised it isn’t an injury to the same hamstring operation area which he had – it’s in a different spot. It’s like a hamstring injury that any player can get, and you might be out for six weeks, maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less, depending on where it is. You can see the shape of him – speed is a big part of his game. When you’re getting to that level there’s a bigger chance of getting hamstring injuries. But we feel for him because he played really well in the game.”
The absence of Branthwaite and Beto is a significant blow for Everton, who are currently 10th in the Premier League table. A victory against West Ham could see them climb to seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, as they approach the final stretch of the season.
Moyes expressed concern about the recurring nature of Branthwaite’s hamstring issues, suggesting it might be part of his development as a player.
David Moyes continued: “I hope not. It’s a wee bit of an age thing – I don’t want to say growing pains, because it’s far from that, he’s a grown man now – but I think he’s still learning a bit more about himself, and what he does. I hope that’s the case. But ultimately he’s had a couple of hamstrings now and we’re obviously worried about it, yes.”
Everton will need to adapt quickly to these setbacks as they aim to finish the season strongly, despite the challenges posed by these key absences.
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