Sean Dyche reveals Gareth Southgate talks over Everton star amid England rumours
Everton manager Sean Dyche believes that Jarrad Branthwaite will be in his England counterpart Gareth Southgate’s thinking as he picks his next Three Lions squad.
As they step up their preparations for this summer’s European Championships in Germany, England, who were runners-up last time out – losing on penalties to Italy despite Everton’s Jordan Pickford making two saves in the shoot-out – have got a brace of high-profile Wembley friendlies later this month against Brazil (March 23) and Belgium (March 26). Branthwaite, 21, who was part of former Blues midfielder Lee Carsley’s squad that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last summer, has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season this term and his form has been witnessed in recent weeks by Southgate, who attended Everton’s home games against Chelsea and West Ham United plus their trip to Manchester City.
Asked if he expected Branthwaite to receive a maiden call-up, Dyche said: “I sometimes speak to Gareth if he calls me and asks my opinion. Other than that, I’ve never picked his squad for him.
“I would imagine that Jarrad would be in the thinking, that’s all, I wouldn’t pick his squad for him. But I imagine with his performances and I thought he was good again (against Manchester United).
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“I think Tarky’s been excellent as well, between them they’ve been very, very strong. I would imagine that he’s somewhere at least in Gareth’s thinking about the squad but as I’ve said, I’ve never ever got involved in who he should or shouldn’t pick, it’s his responsibility not mine.”
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