‘I’m telling you’… Ian Wright says Everton have an absolutely unbelievable player in their squad

Everton, despite their struggles on the pitch, actually boast a starting side laden with quality.

Jordan Pickford cuts one of the division’s finest shot-stoppers, and in Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite they boast two of the hottest young properties in Europe too.

The foundation is in place for steady progression, yet the Premier League continues to prohibit them due to past transgressions.

However, having been a vocal supporter of their plight and battle with the aforementioned division, Ian Wright has now come out to lavish one of that outstanding trio with praise.

What Ian Wright said about Jarrad Branthwaite

Speaking on his podcast, Wright’s House, the former Arsenal and Crystal Palace striker wasted no time in lavishing the England U21 international with praise.

He joins a long list of suitors for the 21-year-old, which includes top sides like his beloved Gunners and Real Madrid.

And now, he does predict a big upgrade for the defender, but on the international scene rather than the club. He claimed: ‘I would like to give flowers to Jarrad Branthwaite. I believe now he will be in the next England squad. He has got everything. You watch how he plays, left-sided as well, he plays out well.

‘Very brave. And then when you listen to his interview he sounds like somebody who is like yeah, I’m there, I’m here. He should be called up. And not only that, he should be played. Let’s have a look at him. I’m telling you we have a monster on our hands at left-sided centre-half. A monster.’

Everton have had few England players in recent years

Despite having boasted a rich pool of top England players across the last decade or so, few have really been selected for the national side.

But, when Gareth Southgate was hired, that promised to change

He issued a bold statement to fans, suggesting his selection would come from form first rather than the biggest names.

And whilst there are some fine examples of him sticking to his word, his desperation to include the likes of Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips despite struggling for minutes with their respective clubs diminishes his standing.

Pickford has been the sole Everton mainstay in the England side of late, and whilst James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all featured for their national side since 2018, their opportunities have been few and far between.

However, in Branthwaite, it feels like they will not be denied.

He is too good and too precious an asset to keep out of the squad, as a mature left-footed titan with all the physical assets to thrive at the top level.

Wright clearly sees it, and the hope is that Southgate will do too to hopefully secure his place in the upcoming Euro 2024 squad set to travel to Germany this summer.