Everton is experiencing a disastrous start to the season, but for Jarrad Branthwaite, there is personal success. The former PSV player has earned a starting position at Goodison Park. 'There is still plenty of room for improvement.'
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Ruud van Nistelrooij had confidence in Branthwaite last season and consistently placed the towering defender at the center of his defense during the second half of the season. PSV attempted to loan Branthwaite again last summer, but Everton put a stop to it. Manager Sean Dyche saw the man-marker as a potential starter for his team.
'When I arrived at the club in preseason, he told me to work hard and that I would get my chance. It was up to me to seize it,' Branthwaite recalls in a conversation with Sky Sports. 'I kept thinking about that when I didn't play in the first few games. Now that I'm in the starting lineup, it's about maintaining my form.'
Statistics
If Branthwaite also starts against Brentford on Saturday, he will have matched the number of starts from his last full season at Everton. His time at PSV seems to have benefited the defender. Branthwaite is not only the Everton player with the most ball recoveries in their own half but also, except for one player, the one with the most forward passes.
Is Branthwaite in the form of his life? 'You could say that. This is the toughest league. Having a good start has been essential to perform at this level. There is still plenty of room for improvement. I'm working hard to reach the next level, but that comes with playing a series of games and maintaining my form.'
