Everton 'worried' about Jarrad Branthwaite injury, says David Moyes

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsMan City vs. ArsenalCan Simons Save Spurs?Everton ‘worried’ about Jarrad Branthwaite injury, says David MoyesEverton have five games remaining this season and still have hopes of finishing in the European qualification places. Gareth Copley/Getty Images Share articleEverton manager David Moyes has expressed concern over the injury sustained by key defender Jarrad Branthwaite during Sunday’s 2-1 Merseyside derby defeat by Liverpool. Branthwaite, 23, was in tears as he left the field on a stretcher 87 minutes into the game, having gone down clutching his right hamstring after sliding into the advertising boards attempting a clearance. He was later seen leaving Hill Dickinson Stadium on crutches. Everton ended up losing the game, with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk netting a 100th-minute header from a corner. It represents another cruel setback for Branthwaite, who has struggled with injuries this season. The central defender spent the first half of the campaign on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and underwent surgery in October on the issue following what Everton described as a “complication” in his rehabilitation. Branthwaite also missed last week’s warm-weather training camp in Portugal as a precaution, with Everton looking to manage him carefully after his injury troubles over the past 12 months. Further medical tests will be needed to determine the severity of this latest issue, but the early prognosis was not good. “I’m worried but we’ve not had any results,” Moyes said in his post-match press conference. The Scot, who felt his side should have had a penalty for a first-half challenge by Curtis Jones on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, was handed another blow as goalscorer Beto also had to be substituted due to an apparent concussion. “I don’t think the injuries we had helped us in some ways,” Moyes said. “But I’ve got no problem. The players did a great job, competing against a really strong team. We showed we’re not too far away. “You might say it could be a soft contact (on Dewsbury-Hall) but he’s in on goal to shoot and finish. Why would he not take the opportunity to do that? “We didn’t deserve the outcome we got (in the game) but football is cruel sometimes and you have to bounce back and go again when adversity goes against you.” Everton are now 10th in the Premier League, one point behind Chelsea in sixth. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Patrick Boyland has been The Athletic's Everton correspondent since 2019. Prior to joining the company, he worked for ESPN, Mail Online and press agency Sportsbeat, where he covered numerous major sporting events. Boyland's views on Everton have been sought out by local and national media, while he is also a regular on a number of podcasts focusing on the club. Follow him on Twitter: @Paddy_Boyland