Jarrad Branthwaite was speaking after making his first start of the campaign in Everton’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Brighton & Hove Albion
Jarrad Branthwaite in possession during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton at Amex Stadium on January 31, 2026 (Image: 2026 Ben Peters/MB Media)
Following Jarrad Branthwaite’s long-awaited return from a hamstring injury, the centre-back has revealed that his focus is on securing Everton’s place in Europe next season.
Branthwaite made his first appearance of the campaign in the 1-1 draw at home to Leeds United with his second-half cameo reminding everyone of the centre-back’s talent.
He then made his first start of the season, at left-back in place of the injured Vitalii Mykolenko, in Saturday’s last-gasp 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.
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And speaking to evertontv after that match, Branthwaite said: “Every game is massive now. We want Europe – we’ve said that since the start of the season.
“As long as we keep picking up points, we might look at the end of the season and we are in Europe by a point. So, every game’s huge and we’ve just got to keep going like that.”
Everton’s impressive away form will be crucial in the race for European places. Collecting 13 of the last 18 available points on the road has contributed to their 10th-place position in the league.
Sitting two points off seventh and five off sixth, the Blues will face off against fellow Europe-chasers Fulham on Saturday. The Cottagers are currently in ninth and are only a point above their visitors.
With Branthwaite’s return, and Mykolenko’s absence not expected to be serious, David Moyes could soon have the whole squad at his disposal bar from Jack Grealish.
And the Everton manager moved to replace the stricken Grealish on deadline day with the loan signing of Tyrique George, who will be available for selection at Craven Cottage this weekend.
Branthwaite said: “Competition in every squad’s the best thing. It drives everyone to be as good as they can each day and pushes the standard in training, which only leads to better performances in the game.”
Whether Branthwaite continues at left-back against Fulham could depend if Mykolenko returns. But he said: “It’s one of them; the manager asked me if I could play (at left-back) and I’ll do anything to get on the pitch again – it’s been such a long time for me.”
The Blues needed a 97th-minute equaliser at the Amex Stadium courtesy of substitute Beto. The birthday boy capitalised on Bart Verbruggen’s inability to keep hold of Jake O’Brien’s shot to level the score and keep the excellent away form going.
And Branthwaite said: “Not many teams come (to Brighton) and get a result, so we turn up here saying, look, why can’t we? That’s the mentality of every away game.
“We’re unlucky not to get three points, but it’s a very good point on the road.
“Look at the lads away at (Aston) Villa the other week, no-one expected us to go there and get a result, so I think that’s what drives us and the team’s spirit.”
Playing 89 minutes against Brighton, after 45 minutes against Leeds in his return, the England international added: “The legs aren’t thanking me now but I’m really happy with my body – how it’s held up.
“It’s been such a long time for me, a frustrating eight or nine months, so I’m just happy to be back out there. I’m looking forward to hopefully playing many more games this season.”