Jarrad Branthwaite tipped for 'hell of a career' after 'immaculate' Everton arrival

Everton’s James Tarkowski admits that sometimes he just stands back and admires Jarrad Branthwaite - with the moment when the young centre-back "devoured" Michail Antonio in the 1-0 win at West Ham United was one such occasion.

Antonio was left pole-axed by Branthwaite’s strength when the Blues youngster set up the move for what proved to be the only goal of the game for Dominic Calvert-Lewin on 51 minutes. But even before then, the 21-year-old was bossing one of the game’s most-seasoned and wily frontmen. An incident early in the first half saw the Hammers crowd roar into life as the ball got played over the top for Antonio to chase on to. But you’d have been forgiven for not realising Branthwaite was the rookie given the power and composure he displayed to shrug him off.

David Moyes would put the 33-year-old, who has spent most of the afternoon in Branthwaite’s back pocket, out of his misery soon after the goal by hooking him and when asked if his team-mate’s form has made his own life easier, Tarkowski offers an affirmative as strong as one of their tackles. He said: “For sure. I don’t worry about him at all.

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“I saw Michail Antonio try and run him down the line at the weekend and I just stood where I was meant to be because I knew he’d deal with it. His level of performance has been incredible, he shows great maturity already for such a young lad and he’s got all the capabilities to play top level for the rest of his career.”

Everton manager Sean Dyche described the pair as being “immense” at London Stadium but Tarkowski believes Branthwaite has been like that since he came into the side. He said: “It’s nice to get a compliment. I’d agree about Jarrad, he’s been exceptional for his age.

“He’s not got a whole lot of experience at this level but he’s come into the team and performed so fair play to him. He’s proving that he’s got a lot of qualities to go to the very top so it’s just about him staying consistent with his level of performance and he has done so far.

“He’s way ahead of where I was at that age. What is he 21? I was playing League One football so he’s way beyond where I was.

“If he can learn the lessons that I learned, ones that took me until I was about 27 or 28 to learn, he’s going to have a hell of a career.”

So given his early promise after coming back from a season-long loan spell in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, just what does the former Carlisle United player now need to take on board? Tarkowski said: “He reads the game really well and physically he’s really good. When I say about learning lessons I means in terms of learning how to stay consistent, which he has done so far.

“There will be blips in his career and times where you lose a bit of form and make mistakes but it’s how you deal with and cope with them. So far he’s been immaculate.

“It think that’s part of my job to give him advice during games, not just with him but the whole team. I’ve played a lot of games at this level and I think I’ve got a pretty good understanding of the game.

“He’s the player next to me so I’m in communication with him a lot but that’s my goal within the team and the whole club.”