The timing of Jarrad's latest setback is particularly cruel for him and the club

Jarrad Branthwaite’s latest setback is a cruel blow for Everton - with the centre-back so close to making his return that plans for his comeback were well advanced.

- By JOE THOMAS

Having not played in the opening two months of the campaign, it was always unlikely he would be thrown into a duel with Manchester City and inform Erling Haaland for his first test after recovering from a hamstring injury.

But genuine consideration was being given to when he could return.

“He is back out on the grass and he'll be close for this week’, David Moyes said in his pre-City press conference on Friday.

Later that day, the club released images of the 23-year-old in full training from the previous day.

It is clear everyone was gearing up for the return of the player Moyes placed at the heart of his summer rebuild.

Instead Everton once again must deal with a hammer blow that threatens to undermine their plans for progress.

At the heart of it all is a young player who was set to become a talisman in an historic season for the club that made him the centrepiece of the transition towards the, promising future it is hoped the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium will bring.

His personal hopes of challenging for England's World Cup squad next summer - a target that was within his reach had he struck form this season - now look distant.

While the latest hamstring setback has left Branthwaite devastated, there is already determination to recover and do everything in his power to come back as strong and as quickly as possible.