Dyche opted to go with James Tarkowski and Michael Keane in defence against Fulham rather than the 21-year-old but has reassured him and his fans that he likes what he’s seen and is still getting used to him after the defender spent last season on loan at PSV. Branthwaite had a shorter pre-season than the rest of the squad after he and James Garner returned late after winning the Under 21 European Championships with England, and is still in the process of getting fit and sharp. Dyche spoke to media recently as shared by the , when he was asked about Branthwaite’s position in the team, and the boss revealed: “Jarrad has done well in pre-season but he missed a couple of weeks so he is still getting fit and sharp but we like what we have seen so far and we’re just getting used to him.” The boss then commented on the way his side defended against Fulham, saying: “On the defensive side of things, the shape of the side, the energy of the side was all good. “I think if we scored two there then the story is radically different and I think everyone says it was a really good performance and they deserved to win, I think everyone in the stadium thinks, ‘yes, they were the better side’, but sometimes you don’t get it.” Branthwaite already has 13 senior Everton appearances to his name but emerged as the breakout star for PSV as he helped to guide the team to a Dutch Cup during his loan spell last season, and is now looking to break into the Everton first team in the Premier League. In their opening game of the season, Dyche opted for a tried-and-tested defensive pairing of Tarkowski and Keane, but Branthwaite will be waiting in the wings to grab his chance when it is handed to him, and when he is fully fit. The defender has drawn interest from Manchester United this summer [ , 31 July] in a testament to his fantastic ability, and at only 21 years old, he still has room to learn and grow. Playing under Dyche will give him even more experience in what he is expected to do in the demands of Premier League football. It seems like it will just be a matter of time until Branthwaite breaks into Dyche’s side, as he has all of the attributes to stand out in this system, and should make the step into the side with ease.