Everton have plan in mind as key Moyes player absent from training camp - report

Jarrad Branthwaite reportedly did not travel with the rest of the Everton squad to their warm-weather training camp in Portugal.

The England international missed the first half of the campaign through injury and has slowly been integrated back into the side.

Branthwaite has played a key part in Everton’s good run of form, helping the Toffees to a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Burnley last time out.

And David Moyes will hope to have the centre-back fit and firing for the remainder of the campaign, with a new injury update emerging on the Everton ace.

Everton have plan in mind for Jarrad Branthwaite

As per reliable Everton news source ElBobble via X on Monday, Branthwaite did not travel to Everton’s warm-weather training camp over the weekend.

However, rather than that being anything to do with a fresh injury, instead it is because Everton are looking to manage the defender’s minutes between now and the end of the season.

Branthwaite has played 492 minutes of Everton’s Premier League campaign to date, with each of his appearances coming since the end of January.

The 23-year-old is expected to be selected from the start when Everton return to Premier League action away at Arsenal on Saturday.

Where did Everton’s warm-weather training camp switch to?

Everton had been due to spend time in the United Arab Emirates in the break between facing Burnley and Arsenal.

Everton’s early exit from the FA Cup means they have an 11-day gap between league fixtures, with Moyes always eager to get abroad when possible.

However, given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East right now, it was decided Everton would travel to Portugal instead.

That seems like a smart choice, with the Toffees being closer to home but enjoying the benefits of being together in the sun.

This is all in the hope that Moyes’ men return ready to go for that Arsenal clash, with a European spot very much in sight this term.

The hope is that Branthwaite can feature in as many of the nine matches as possible, but Moyes will not be taking any unnecessary risks – as this week has gone to show.

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