Jarrad Branthwaite believes Thierno Barry's recent scoring form is the result of the forward playing with confidence after a difficult first season at Everton. Barry struggled to settle after arriving from Villarreal for £27.5 million, and although he scored eight goals, he was largely written off. His commitment to improve during the close season is now paying off, with his brace against Coventry City on Friday night taking his tally to 10 for the season in all competitions and helping Everton secure a 3-1 comeback victory.
Barry's confidence shines through
“It is good to see because I know how hard he works as a player, at the training ground and away from the training ground,” Branthwaite said. “We all knew he could score goals and I think you are starting to see that now. I am buzzing for him. It is always difficult when you come into the Premier League and you are a new face and at a new club.”
“It takes a bit of time to settle in and I think he has done that now and you can see how confident he is as a player, on the pitch and off it,” he added.
Moyes equals club record
Friday's match was also a landmark for Everton boss David Moyes, who equalled Harry Catterick's record of 592 games in charge of the club. Branthwaite praised Moyes, saying: “He just knows the club inside out. He knows what it means to play for Everton and always instils it in us throughout the week and before games to go out there, give the best account of yourself, work hard and (with) the quality we're showing the fans will get behind us.”
“I think we've been doing that, and you can see the atmosphere that we've created tonight when we started to come back. It's really positive. He's been brilliant for me. All the managers have been top class for me, giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League at such a young age. He keeps looking after me this season as well, so I'm happy about that,” Branthwaite added.
Fitness ahead of England duty
Branthwaite will join up with the England squad this week for Nations League games against Croatia and Spain. The defender has been taken off in Everton's last two matches and missed the recent defeat to Arsenal and the Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United due to concussion.
Asked about his fitness, he replied: “I'm feeling good; with the concussion, it was 12 days of not really being able to do an awful lot, so when you go back into a game, Newcastle away at St James', it is always tough with the intensity, and I was feeling it a little bit then.”
