England manager Gareth Southgate made a personal check on Everton duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Sunday.
Southgate’s side don’t play until March when they face Brazil and Belgium in friendlies at Wembley, their final two games before the head coach picks his squad for Euro 2024.
And the England boss was paying particular attention to Toffees pair Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin on his trip to Merseyside at the weekend.
Branthwaite, 21, has impressed under Sean Dyche this season and was under consideration for the previous squad last month.
The fact he can play on the left-side of two centre-backs will boost the Everton defender’s cause, though Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill are also capable of playing alongside John Stones, who is usually deployed on the right.
England boss Gareth Southgate is keeping a watchful eye on Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
The Three Lions manager was in attendance at Goodison Park as Everton beat Chelsea 2-0
He is also keeping tabs on striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who, despite battling several injuries, has returned to impress for the Toffees this season
Calvert-Lewin’s return to fitness has also come as boost to Southgate, who is devoid of a traditional centre-forward in his squad behind Harry Kane.
The Toffees striker became a fixture in Southgate’s squad, but injuries have prevented his progress at international level.
Southgate is an admirer of a fully fit Calvert-Lewin, but with Ivan Toney’s betting suspension ending next month the Brentford striker will also come into contention for a recall.
The Toffees’ victory against Chelsea helped them go four points clear of Luton at the top of the relegation places
While England will not play until next March, Southgate is eyeing up potential squad members for next summer’s European Championships
