Jarrad Branthwaite believes Everton’s trip abroad was “just what the group needed” as they ready for the final 10 games of the campaign.
The Blues flew out to Portugal last Monday morning where they remained in camp for several days. A different training backdrop was a key reason for the trip, with a three-week gap between the trip to Old Trafford and Everton’s next Premier League fixture away to Bournemouth on Saturday 30 March (3pm KO).
While hard work remained at the forefront of the schedule, it was also an opportunity for the squad to bond further ahead of a crucial final stretch of the season.
Reflecting on the trip, the defender told evertonfc.com: “It’s been good, I think it was what we needed.
“There’s been a bit of team building, as well, after a few tough sessions. I missed pre-season, so it is nice to get away from Finch Farm and come to a different environment with the players and have a bit of downtime to get together and get to know each other a bit more - it’s been really good.
“There’s been some hard training sessions to get us ready for after the international break. I think we are all ready for that next game now."
Branthwaite received his first senior England call-up on Thursday and met up with his Three Lions teammates on Tuesday morning ahead of their friendly fixtures over the international break against Brazil and Belgium.
The 21-year-old admitted last week that the call-up was “a dream come true”. However, looking ahead to his return with Everton, he added that he believed this prolonged break from Premier League action has allowed him and his teammates time to reflect and reset, putting them in a better position heading into the final two months of the season.
“When you are in it (the thick of the Premier League schedule), it’s all of your focus," he explained. "But now we have a three-week break, we stepped away from it all and are focusing on ourselves, not really focusing on the games.
“Well, we are, but we are also focusing on ourselves more than ever. There’s been some team bonding and bringing it all together, then once the week commences of the next game back, we will be ready to go.”
