Everton boss Sean Dyche explains why he won't rush Jarrad Branthwaite's comeback

Jarrad Branthwaite has been out since having a groin operation in the summer and Everton have conceded 13 goals in their first four Premier League games without the England centre-half

Sean Dyche insists he won’t rush Jarrad Branthwaite back - even though Everton desperately miss the England defender.

Everton had the Premier League’s fourth best defence last season with Branthwaite and they have the worst without him, having conceded 13 goals in their first four games. Branthwaite will have his first action this weekend for Everton’s under-21s following his groin operation in the summer and Dyche says experience has taught him not to take chances with a player’s recovery.

Everton face Leicester on Saturday at the King Power Stadium in a huge game and Dyche insists he will only bring back the centre-half when he is ready. “I believe this because my history in the game from the age of 16 has pretty much shown that every player that does that very rarely comes through it and continues playing,” said the Everton boss.

“So there has to be some sense, and for the player don’t forget. People forget he’s had one season, one big season in the Premier League, and we have to be fair to the player. I have to find fairness and putting players on the football pitch, who are either ill or not well or not in the mental state or physical state to play, I have a responsibility of care as well. I won’t do that and I haven’t done that.

“When I speak to a player, I check their stats and facts and see how they are mentally, how they are with their family, check everything, 'right how are you feeling?' Look at it a different way, why do we do six weeks pre-season if every player could just play? There would be no point to it.

“We have a player who’s been out 13 weeks and people say, ‘why aren’t you playing him?’ How does that make sense? Why have six weeks off and six weeks training? You might as well have 11 weeks off and one week’s training.”

Dyche says he has not lost his desire to manage, despite his many problems at rock-bottom Everton, who have been rocked by injury and illness, and admits he would quit if he did. Everton have lost their first four Premier League games, prompting some fans to lose patience with Dyche, but he insists his hunger is still there.

“If you lose that then don’t do what I do,” he said. “If you lose that moment in your conscience where you just go, you might as well not do it. That’s probably anyone in life, not just football players, that could be anyone. People who sit in an office when they lose that will to work hard - time to go. I certainly haven’t got that.”

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