All posts by h716a5.icu

The day-long defiance of Keaton Jennings spoiled Nottinghamshire’s hopes of the victory which would have given them a lifeline in Division One

ECB Reporters Network02-Sep-2016
ScorecardKeaton Jennings led Durham’s fightback•Getty ImagesThe day-long defiance of Keaton Jennings spoiled Nottinghamshire’s hopes of the victory which would have given them a lifeline in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship. The opener joined Michael Di Venuto and Paul Collingwood as the only players to score six Championship centuries in a season for Durham and went on to make an unbeaten 171.Durham were 385 for 8, leading by 316, when bad light forced a break, prompting a declaration which may have been influenced by a forecast of rain on Saturday afternoon. The sun re-emerged and Nottinghamshire, with eight overs to bat, reached 17 before Graham Onions trimmed Jake Libby’s off stump with four balls left.Five of Jennings’ six hundreds have come at Emirates Riverside, underlining the improvement in pitches, and this third-day surface had the visitors looking careworn by lunchtime. Despite having a nightwatchman to bowl at, they went through the session wicketless as Graham Onions passed his career-best 41 and went on to contribute 65 to a stand of 162.Jennings, who was on 32 overnight, almost fell to the day’s second and ninth balls. The first edge off Luke Fletcher fell just short of gully and the second, off Harry Gurney, flew straight through where third slip should have been. Gurney beat him a few times, but generally offered a mixed bag, as did the other left-armer, Luke Wood.Onions applied himself studiously to his task and made only eight in the first 45 minutes. He then off drove Gurney for four and lifted Imran Tahir over mid-on as he scored 49 of the 118 runs added in the session. A straight drive off Fletcher took him to his maiden half-century off 119 balls, earning rapturous applause and a hug from Jennings.After Onions fell lbw when trying to hit Samit Patel over midwicket, the best support came from Barry McCarthy with 28 in an unbroken stand of 51. Fletcher took two wickets with the new ball and Tahir went on a celebratory jig through the covers when Stuart Poynter inside-edged a drive into his stumps.Jennings proceeded at the same measured tempo, reaching 50 off 112 balls, his hundred off 204 and 150 off 285. He fiercely put away any short, wide stuff from the left-armers, drove sweetly and carefully nudged ones and twos. He also showed the skill which allowed him to score 88 in the NatWest T20 Blast final with three perfectly executed reverse sweeps.

Newcastle United are likely to be linked with a plethora of huge names this summer following their qualification for the Champions League.

However, Eddie Howe will perhaps be keen to stick with his preferred model of signing younger players and developing them at St James' Park, rather than bringing in established talents for big money.

One man who would fit that model is Middlesbrough midfielder, Hayden Hackney, with the 20-year-old linked with a move to St James' Park after a breakthrough campaign in the Championship.

Could Newcastle sign Hackney?

According to 90min, Hackney's performances in the second tier have attracted the interest of Premier League sides such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City in recent weeks.

Although the youngster signed a new long-term deal at the Riverside until 2026, Boro's failure to earn promotion through the playoffs suggests that the midfielder could well be tempted away by the prospect of top-flight football this summer.

While there is a lot of competition for Hackney's signature, Newcastle's geographical advantage as well as their recent Champions League qualification could just swing things in their favour, especially if he takes into account Howe's record with young players.

Would Hackney be a trademark Eddie Howe signing?

Even at Newcastle when he's had a big budget to spend, Howe's most expensive signings of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are 23 and 22 respectively, while at Bournemouth he would cultivate a reputation of signing top young prospects from the Premier League and lower down the English pyramid.

The likes of Nathan Ake and Dominic Solanke prospered on the south coast under Howe having joined from Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, while the likes of Tyrone Mings, Jack Stacey and Lewis Cook were signed as young prospects from teams outside the Premier League.

Therefore, the English manager is clearly not afraid to target youngsters who have made a name for themselves in the lower divisions and after making 36 appearances for Michael Carrick's side in the Championship this season, Hackney could be trusted to make the step-up.

The Scotland U21 international notched three goals and four assists in those outings, earning a solid 6.80 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which is extremely impressive given he was on loan at Scunthorpe United last season as they finished bottom of League Two.

After penning a new deal at the Riverside on £4k-per-week, Hackney earned the praise of his manager, for whom he was a mainstay after he took over from Chris Wilder early in the campaign.

Carrick said: "Hayden has been terrific since I came and the couple of games before that he played really well. That's kind of how it works, you get rewarded for your good work. He fully deserves it. He's been a credit to himself and his family with the way he's handled it.

"He's just stepped in. He's down to earth, he hasn't got carried away and kept doing the same things."

If PIF want to properly back Howe in the summer transfer window then they should perhaps steer clear of the big names and instead continue the philosophy of signing younger players such as Hackney for the future.

Crystal Palace can begin looking towards next season having sealed another respectable midtable finish to secure a 11th consecutive year in the Premier League.

Some Eagles fans are perhaps approaching the summer with a hint of anxiety as their star man Wilfried Zaha is set to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract in June.

Nevertheless, there remains a strong cohort of gifted young players at Selhurst Park which is predominantly centred around Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, and Marc Guehi.

However, one player that slips under the radar is Tyrick Mitchell, who is a pivotal figure in the future of the South London club and who must be kept at all costs.

Why is Tyrick Mitchell important to Crystal Palace?

The 23-year-old made his first team debut in July 2020 and has gone on to make 102 appearances for the club he has been at since 2016.

This season, the Englishman has started 33 Premier League games and has emerged as one of the club’s most trusted options, who has been equally appreciated by Roy Hodgson and Patrick Vieira.

His impressive string of performances has meant that he received his first senior England call-up in March 2022 and made his debut for his country in a 2-1 over Switzerland in that same month.

Jon de Souza, his former U18 coach at Brentford, summarised the two-cap international’s play style as someone who is “aggressive, wants to defend, and wants to tackle.”

This is showcased by the fact that the "technically super-gifted" left-back – in the words of his ex-youth coach Gabriel Flores – ranks in the top 17% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for blocks per 90, and has recorded 69 tackles this season, which is the 19th-highest of any player in the whole division.

The defender has forged a formidable reputation for his tough tackling and last term he averaged 2.9 tackles per game, which was the most in the Palace squad.

A reliable and consistent asset, the £40k-per-week gem has been described as an “outstanding talent from day one," whilst also being hailed as a "silent assassin" by former U16 coach Anthony Hayes.

Due to his solidity, Mitchell has been likened to former Eagles star Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as they both excel at one-vs-one defending and possess rapid ball recovery.

This has been recognised by retired striker Mark Bright, who said:

“Tyrick is very similar to Aaron. He’s got the baton and is running with it. I’m really pleased for him. He doesn’t get carried away, he’s quiet but he has a lot of self-belief.”

The London-born machine is contracted until 2025, but Roy Hodgson and the hierarchy must maximise their efforts to keep Mitchell for as long as possible.

The MCC World Cricket Committee has recommended the introduction of further limitations to the size of cricket bats within the laws of the game

George Dobell12-Jul-2016The MCC World Cricket Committee has recommended the introduction of further limitations to the size of cricket bats within the laws of the game.The committee, concerned that the balance between bat and ball “has tilted too far in the batsman’s favour”, has proposed that the thickness and depth of bats be limited and added that further discussion is required over the weight of bats.The committee, which has no powers but is respected as an independent voice in world cricket, makes recommendations to the MCC and has included David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, among its number. The committee also welcomed the ICC’s suggestions for greater context in Test cricket, called for cricket to be included in the Olympics and called for a change in Law 42.15, sometimes referred to as the Mankad Law, to ensure clarity over the issue of running out the non-striking batsman who leaves the crease before the point of release. As far as the committee is concerned, such a batsman “is either taking an advantage or acting carelessly and runs the risk of being legitimately run-out”.But it was perhaps the call for an amended law over the size of bats that might have the greatest ramifications for the game. While at pains to make clear that the committee was not trying to reduce the number of boundaries hit in the modern game, Mike Brearley, chairman of the committee, did express concern that mis-hits were carrying for six and that, if current trends went unchecked, the dominance of bat over ball would only become more pronounced.”The time has come to restrict the size of bat edges and the overall width [depth] of bats,” Mike Brearley, chairman of the committee, said. “It was pointed out to us that, in 1905, the width of bats was 16mm and that, by 1980, it had increased to 18mm. It is now an average, in professional cricket, of 35-40mm and sometimes up to 60mm. That shows how fast the change has been.””The one thing we don’t want to see is batsmen unable to hit fours and sixes,” Rod Marsh agreed. “That’s so far from what will happen. We just don’t want to see the bat sizes get bigger. But when you see a guy try to hit the ball through midwicket and it flies for six over cover, you know something is wrong.”While the committee’s view was not unanimous – Ramiz Raja was one who had reservations about a proposed restriction – it proposed that “further consultations will be held with bat manufacturers and scientists to finalise the exact measurements and to investigate the viability and need for a weight limit”. If progress is smooth, it is possible that an amended law could be ratified by the MCC’s main committee as part of a new Code of Laws scheduled to be introduced on October 1, 2017.”The overwhelming (but not unanimous) view of the committee was that it has become too easy for batsmen to clear the boundary in all forms of cricket, even with mis-timed shots,” a statement read. “Furthermore, it was felt that there is a clear safety concern for close fielders, bowlers and umpires, whilst the recreational game is also suffering, as balls are flying into nearby residential properties with increasing frequency, thus threatening the existence of some smaller cricket clubs.”The committee agrees with ICC’s cricket committee that, beyond the limits that have long been in place regarding the width and length of a cricket bat, further limitations to the edge, depth and possibly to the weight should now be introduced. One proposal would be for the maximum thickness of the edge to be between 35mm and 40mm, and the overall depth of the bat to be between 60mm and 65mm (some bats in current use have edges of 55mm and can be up to 80mm deep).”Other recommendations from the committee included: An insistence that “cricket must embrace the concept of playing T20 in the Olympic Games by applying to become a participating sport for 2024”. Suggesting that such a development would represent “the single most effective move ICC could make” to realise their ambition of making cricket “the world’s favourite sport”, the committee reasoned that it was an opportunity “to inspire and reinvigorate the sport at the grassroots level and encourage its growth in new markets”. A call for promotion and relegation in Test cricket, as well as “a pinnacle event between the top two teams” – effectively a final – to be contested every two years. While the committee welcomed the ICC’s attempt to add context to all formats of the international game, it expressed concern over the future of Test cricket. It accepted that staging a final presented significant practical challenges, but suggested it may present the best way of “captivating an audience”. An offer to take “one or two” of the most promising young cricketers from Pakistan into the MCC Young Cricketers programme “in future years” in recognition at the extraordinary challenges faced by Pakistan cricket, not least having to play “home” matches in a neutral country where costs are high and the lack of bilateral series against India. A call to change Law 42.15. “The World Cricket Committee’s unanimous view was that there should be a change in the Law to mirror the current ICC playing condition,” the statement reads, “that requires the non-striker to remain inside the crease before the point of release of the ball. A non-striker who is out of his crease before the point of release is either taking an advantage or is acting carelessly, and runs the risk of being legitimately run out.”The committee also expressed delight at the apparent change of character at the ICC since Shashank Manohar was elected chairman.”The committee believes that governance changes brought about by ICC in February 2014 were bad for the game,” their statement says, “and is delighted that, under the leadership of Shashank Manohar and David Richardson, the game’s global governing body has come to the view that many of the decisions taken at that time need to be reversed.”

All Pakistan’s bowlers were made to work hard for their success on the second day against Worcestershire

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jul-2016
ScorecardJoe Clarke made a half-century on the second day•Getty ImagesAll Pakistan’s bowlers were made to work hard for their success on the second day against Worcestershire as Joe Clarke, the highly-rated 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck half-centuries at New Road.Rahat Ali, an incumbent in the Test side, finished with 2 for 29 but both he and Wahab Riaz, who has also played the opening two Tests, could find themselves vulnerable if Pakistan opt to change the balance of their attack for Edgbaston.Imran Khan and Sohail Khan, both right-arm quicks, were given the most work by Azhar Ali but only managed a wicket apiece in their 19 overs.Worcestershire’s openers, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Fell, provided a solid start with a stand of 77 which was broken when Rahat removed Fell. Mitchell was yorked on the stroke of lunch by Sohail, one short of his fifty, and the early part of the afternoon was dominated by two of Worcestershire’s talented young batsmen.Clarke is firmly on England’s radar – he was part of the recent England Lions squad – and brought up his fifty, which included a six of Zulfiqar Babar, off 68 balls before being caught behind off Rahat.Kohler-Cadmore, 21, also took Zulfiqar for a six on his way to bringing up fifty off 96 deliveries. He was the last wicket to fall before the draw was called when he picked out Imran in the deep.Before then, Wahab and Imran had each struck to make inroads into the middle order. But there was no chance for Pakistan to bat again in the two-day fixture which would appear to make it unlikely they will make changes to their top order for the third Test which starts on August 3.

West Ham United are reportedly looking ahead to the transfer window for reinforcements this summer.

While the narrative surrounding West Ham on the transfer front has been mainly targeting the future of Declan Rice, the Hammers have been linked with a Premier League attacker, taking some attention from their proposed outgoings.

With his future in doubt and his reluctance to sign a new contract public, Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson is expected to be on the move this summer, with interest from East London reported.

What’s the latest on Reiss Nelson to West Ham United?

As reported by the Daily Mail last month, the 23-year-old has gained interest from a number of clubs both inside and out of the Premier League, including West Ham.

It’s now understood that the Gunners have made three offers for contracts to the young Englishman, with a solution not set to be found with his wishes to have more game time.

The Hale End graduate will leave on a free transfer from the Emirates this summer, with his next destination being monitored by many.

What could Reiss Nelson offer West Ham United?

Having been at the club since the age of nine, Nelson has enjoyed two loan spells since graduating from the academy, representing Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.

Following his stay in Germany, the winger’s market value hit a high of €12.7m (£11m) – as per FootballTransfers – for his praised performances in which he scored seven Bundesliga goals in 23 appearances.

Praised as having “great pace” and the ability to do “a lot” with the ball by former Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann, the forward has a bright future ahead of him and would be a worthy addition for West Ham.

While Jarrod Bowen has been strong this season for the majority, scoring 11 goals and assisting eight, introducing a player as hungry as Nelson could spur the 26-year-old on to improve performance and compete for a place.

Despite being a squad player this season in Arsenal’s rising young side, the 23-year-old has made an impact when required, showing his resilience and patience as well as his skill set to provide with little practice.

It’s common for players to drop off performance-wise when not playing frequently, however, Nelson has defied such expectations, with his cameos from the bench ranking him in the top 3% in Europe’s top five leagues for most goals scored per 90, with a massive 0.56 – as per FBref.

Described as having an “elite” mentality by former teammate and fellow Arsenal academy graduate Alex Iwobi, the forward has flourished statistically this season, with FBref comparing him to the likes of Vinicius Junior for his numbers.

The youngster also ranks highly for his work on the ball, averaging 2.63 successful take-ons per 90, placing him in the top 10% for his position in Europe.

The right-winger has a host of potential, as well as experience in playing and competing with a side as bustling with talent as Arsenal’s, making him a forward that could excel at the club and push those around him.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board have named former India batsman Lalchand Rajput as the new head coach of their national team

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2016The Afghanistan Cricket Board has named former India batsman Lalchand Rajput as the new head coach of their national team. He takes over the position vacated by former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in April 2016 and his first assignment is a tour of Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands in July and August.According to ACB chief executive Shaiqullah Stanikzai, Rajput was chosen ahead of former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs and former West Indies fast bowler Corey Collymore. The three of them had applied through their agents while Rajput’s name was recommended by the BCCI.Previous coaching experience and administrative work had given Rajput an edge. He was in charge of the Indian team when they won World T20 in 2007 and for the controversial tour to Australia in 2007-08. Following his retirement after a 17-year playing career, he served as joint honourary secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association.Rajput is in line for a two-year contract, but that decision would be finalised after the upcoming tour of Europe. Afghanistan play seven ODIs against Scotland and Ireland, and an Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands.”I am excited to work again with an international team,” Rajput told ESPNcricinfo. “The challenge is to get Afghanistan into the top 10. They also don’t have the Test status and so our goal would be to work towards achieving that in the long term.”It is learnt that the ACB had been in talks with former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, but they fell through.Rajput has played two Tests and four ODIs for India, to go along with his 110 matches and 7988 runs in first-class cricket. He has also coached his state side Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and in the Indian Premier League. Rajput has had successful stints at the helm of India Under-19 and A teams. He was also among the final contenders to take over as India’s full-time head coach. But with Anil Kumble’s appointment on Thursday, Rajput was free to take up the ACB’s offer.

Aston Villa have reportedly held talks with Barcelona over a move for Ferran Torres this summer.

What’s the latest Villa transfer news involving Torres?

Villa look to be in for a busy summer ahead of Unai Emery’s first season in charge, with Mateu Alemany set to come in as director of football from Barcelona to work with the manager in the transfer market. One of Alemany’s first moves could be a raid on his soon-to-be former employers by moving for Torres.

The 23-year-old was linked with a move to Midlands earlier this month, and it seems as if Villa have made an initial move by holding talks over a deal.

Spanish outlet Sport provided an update regarding Torres in the last 48 hours. They claimed that the two clubs have already started negotiations over a deal that could be formalised before the end of June.

Villa’s interest is described as advanced, with any deal costing at least €42m (£36.8m) – a figure which would see the forward become the club’s record signing ahead of Emiliano Buendia. The report adds that both Alemany and Emery know Torres “perfectly” and feel that he can be a “differential footballer” in the Midlands.

One to watch…

Torres, described as "world-class" by Barcelona manager Xavi, has made 67 appearances for the Catalan giants after joining in January 2022. The Spain international has contributed to 22 goals in all competitions and has played all across the frontline this season.

Therefore, he would provide Emery with a versatile attacking option next season and would also offer previous Premier League experience after scoring nine times in 28 top-flight games for Manchester City.

Primarily a right-footed left-winger, Torres has netted an impressive 15 goals in 35 games for Spain, so could be a smart attacking addition to rival main man Ollie Watkins next season. He would be able to play off Watkins out wide or alongside the Englishman in a central role, and with Alemany and Emery clearly keen, it looks as if a move will be one to keep an eye on.

Gloucestershire’s enterprising approach was rewarded on the final afternoon as century-makers Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor powered them to a five wicket win over Worcestershire in the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road

ECB Reporters Network01-Jun-2016
ScorecardJack Taylor smashed a 71-ball hundred to help Gloucestershire to victory (file photo)•PA PhotosGloucestershire’s enterprising approach was rewarded on the final afternoon as century-makers Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor powered them to a five-wicket win over Worcestershire in the County Championship clash at New Road.The Gloucestershire captain Gareth Roderick had thrown open a game heading towards stalemate on the third day by declaring his side’s first innings 75 runs in arrears. Gloucestershire then proceeded to bowl out Worcestershire for 239 and were left a target of 315 in 70 overs which they reached with more than 10 overs to spare.With the pitch playing true and a short off-side boundary for the right-handers to target, a see-saw game finally tipped in Gloucestershire’s favour as they climbed to third spot in the Division Two table.Klinger, a former Worcestershire player, and Taylor came together in the first over after tea at 141 for 5 and proceeded to flay the home attack.Taylor reached a brilliant hundred off 71 balls with five sixes and 11 fours and finished unbeaten on 107. Klinger completed his ton with the match-winning six off Brett D’Oliveira; he faced 141 balls and hit two sixes and 11 fours. Their stand was worth an unbroken 179 in just 24 overs.Klinger and Taylor’s main concern was the light and play was halted briefly but the players returned and the sixth-wicket pair completed their task.Gloucestershire set out in pursuit of their target immediately after lunch and Worcestershire vice-captain Joe Leach had made the first breakthrough when Chris Dent edged to first slip. Fellow opener Roderick fell to a superb full-length catch by Alexei Kervezee at mid-off off Ed Barnard after he had ran back 20 yards from extra cover.First innings century-maker Graeme van Buuren again looked in good touch before he was undone by a ball of extra bounce from Charlie Morris and was caught behind for 42. Then in the final over before tea, Hamish Marshall took on occasional spinner Kervezee and was caught at mid-on to leave Gloucestershire on 139 for 4 at the interval.Worcestershire’s victory hopes increased in the first over after tea when George Hankins aimed a heave across the line at Leach and was lbw. But Taylor decided counterattacking was the best option and he reached his half century off 38 balls with four sixes and five fours. He also dominated a century stand with Klinger, which came up in just 17 overs.Heavy morning rain delayed the start but play was able to get underway at 11.30am with only the loss of eight overs. Worcestershire resumed on 151 for 5 in their second innings – a lead of 226 – and Ross Whiteley scored a typically robust 53-ball half-century but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end to Liam Norwell and Craig Miles.Ben Cox was caught behind off Norwell and then Leach perished at deep midwicket off Miles. Miles struck twice in an over as Ed Barnard was caught at cover before a superb leg-side catch by keeper Roderick accounted for first-innings centurion Jack Shantry.Whiteley was last out for 71 from 88 balls with four sixes and seven fours. Miles finished with 5 for 54 – his 10th five wicket haul in first class cricket – and Norwell 4 for 70.

Everton have found themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League this season as they continue their battle for survival at the bottom of the table.

The future is looking incredibly uncertain for the Toffees, who are currently one point deep in the relegation zone, with just four games left to avoid their first-ever drop into the Championship since the Premier League began 31 years ago.

The unstable situation at Goodison Park is not only found in the performances on the pitch, with mounting financial concerns also plaguing the Merseysiders as they are currently under investigation for Financial Fair Play breaches too, only adding to the uncertainty surrounding their future.

As a result, any plans or ideas put forward for the summer transfer window will likely be on hold until the club learns their fate in both their potential financial constraints and top-flight status, which leaves Sean Dyche unable to foresee the future of his squad.

However, the Toffees could be set for a huge boost, with Sport Witness relaying reports from the Netherlands this week that academy graduate Jarrad Branthwaite will return to the club following his phenomenal loan spell at PSV Eindhoven this season, despite rumours circulating in the media that he could be sold on.

How is Jarrad Branthwaite getting on at PSV Eindhoven?

Most Everton supporters will be familiar with the talented centre-back following his explosive Premier League performance where he scored a goal against Chelsea in a draw at Stamford Bridge last season, however, they may not be familiar with the outstanding development and growth he has had over his season-long loan so far in the Eredivisie.

Over 23 league appearances, the £15k-per-week ace – hailed "skilful" by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti – has scored two goals, kept six clean sheets and won 55% of his duels combined, as well as averaging 3.5 clearances, 1.4 interceptions and 54.2 touches game, proving that he is a huge presence in several areas of the pitch.

The 20-year-old's talents haven't gone unnoticed, with PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy signing the praises of Branthwaite and expressing his desire to retain the youngster's services next season:

"We would like [to keep him beyond this season]. He is a great talent. The boy is 20, but he has a future.

"He is good on the ball, can play on the left or the right of centre-back because he is two-footed. He has height and speed, so he is very complete."

Despite Van Nistelrooy's wishes, there is no doubt that Branthwaite would be an incredible asset to Everton next season and should be retained at all costs.

The defender is incredibly well-polished and looks set to burst onto the scene in the top-flight next term, with the potential there to emulate the club's biggest academy in recent years in Ross Barkley.

The club's youth set-up has produced some diamonds in days gone by, most notably Wayne Rooney, but Branthwaite feels like the biggest since Barkley.

Although the Englishman contributed to over 50 goals in Everton colours, he now resides in France at Nice.

There will be a hope that Branthwaite's career will not go in a similar direction but his potential exploits in Merseyside are certain to fill supporters with excitement.

It looks unlikely that Yerry Mina will extend his stay at Goodison Park beyond his contract expiration this summer and, due to becoming an outcast under Dyche, it would be surprising to see Everton commit to a permanent deal for Conor Coady, paving the way perfectly for Branthwaite to become a regular starter.

With that being said, retaining as much talent as possible has to be a priority for Everton, no matter where they find themselves over the coming weeks ahead, Utilising Branthwaite's ability in the back line could considerably improve their defensive performance without the need to spend any money at all.