Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has what it takes to be a future England captain under Gareth Southgate, according to Ally McCoist.
The Toffees centre-back received his first senior international call-up for March’s fixtures and while he didn’t get off of the bench in the Three Lions’ defeat to Brazil, he could win his first cap against Belgium on Tuesday (26 March).
Southgate has confirmed that Declan Rice will captain England against Belgium and while McCoist thinks that is the correct decision, he has tipped Branthwaite to wear the armband internationally in the near future if he continues his recent form.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday (26 March, 6:12) he said: “The other was in Branthwaite, I think there is captaincy material in him.”
Will Jarrad Branthwaite start for England against Belgium after his excellent Everton form?
There have been few defenders in the Premier League who have been as consistently impressive this season as Branthwaite who has been a revelation at the heart of Sean Dyche’s defence alongside James Tarkowski.
The 21-year-old has blown pundits and supporters away in his first full season of Premier League football and he is more than deserving of an international debut against Belgium on Tuesday evening.
Southgate has a big decision to make as he looks ahead to this summer’s European Championships. If Branthwaite doesn’t feature against Belgium, it’s hard to see how he will be able to force his way into the Three Lions’ team this summer.
Hopefully, the Toffees centre-back will be handed his chance internationally and take it with both hands and if he continues to develop as he has done over the last year, he could almost certainly be a future England captain.
In other Everton news, Alan Shearer has shared a new “ridiculous” relegation verdict in a Luton Town admission
