Jarrad Branthwaite has lifted the lid on how he found out from Sean Dyche he’d been picked for the England squad for the first time.
Branthwaite joins Blues club colleague Jordan Pickford – who can reach 60 caps in the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium – in being selected by Gareth Southgate. Speaking from Everton’s training camp in Portugal, the 21-year-old told evertontv: “It’s a dream come true. To represent your national team at any level is a massive achievement, but for it to be the senior squad, I’m over the moon.
“I found out in training. The gaffer pulled me and told me I’ve been selected, so I was buzzing when I heard the news.
“You can only affect what you do on the pitch and give yourself the best possible opportunity to be selected, and that’s by putting in good performances on the pitch. That’s what your only focus can be, really, and that’s been from when I came into the team to now – it’s just to keep delivering that high level and see where that takes me.
“I messaged my dad and he said he’s very proud of me. He said: ‘All of the family is proud’, so it’s a lovely feeling. I just can’t wait to join up with the team.
“They’re obviously really tough fixtures, but I’m really happy to just be in the squad, take every moment in and see where it takes me.”
Branthwaite, who was part of former Everton midfielder Lee Carsley’s squad that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last summer, has thanked his Goodison Park colleagues for assisting his development in what has been a rapid rise in a breakthrough season following a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven. He said: “My aim at the start of the season was just to get into the team, and once I get into the team, to perform.
“But above all expectations this season, I’ve played regularly. I’ve stayed injury free – touch wood – and I’ve just got to keep that going.
“The staff and the players have helped me massively. They helped me to settle in when I came back, and I think that’s what’s helped me to deliver the performances.
“It’s massive. When you’re in a defence and you’re a young player, you need experienced players to help you learn the game, help you through games, and they’ve done that this season – especially with Jordan behind me. He’s helped me massively. It’s a privilege to play with those players and they’re helping me along the way.”
England manager Southgate commented on calling up Branthwaite by saying: “He’s played consistently well. We watched him as a back-up centre-half for the under-21s. If you said a year ago he would consistently play in the Premier League, I would have been surprised.
“Credit to Sean Dyche, he’s in on merit. We’re looking forward to having a look at him.”
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