Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is unlikely to play again this season after sustaining a hamstring injury in Sunday’s Merseyside derby defeat.
The centre-half was in tears as he left the pitch on a stretcher in the 87th minute of Everton’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
After the match, the 23-year-old was seen leaving on crutches and Everton boss David Moyes said he was concerned the injury “could be serious”.
Branthwaite missed the first five months of the season – having hamstring surgery in October – and returned to the side in January.
However, his latest injury is unrelated and a scan shows he does not require an operation, Everton said.
He will now start his rehabilitation at the Toffees’ Finch Farm training ground, the club added, external.
The injury is a blow to Branthwaite’s World Cup hopes, as England’s tournament starts on 17 June against Croatia in the United States.
He made his senior debut in a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina two years ago but missed out on the Three Lions’ 26-man squad for Euro 2024.
Everton are currently 10th in the league and in the hunt for European qualification – just three points behind sixth-placed Brighton.
