Jarrad Branthwaite confessed he was struggling to digest the fulfilment of a dream after the teenager’s head-spinning year continued with a first Goodison Park appearance for Everton.

Centre-back Branthwaite was summoned early in Everton’s meeting with Aston Villa on Thursday after injury prematurely ended Mason Holgate’s night.

Branthwaite made his Everton debut as a substitute at Wolverhampton Wanderers four days earlier and following both matches won public praise from manager Carlo Ancelotti, who tipped the player for a “fantastic” future.

The 18-year-old’s staggering 2020 began with a move to Everton from Carlisle United, where his Football League experience amounted to the nine games he played this season.

“I said when I first joined the Club it would be a dream come true to play at Goodison and it’s happened, I can’t believe it, it’s still sinking in,” Branthwaite told evertontv.

“From where I was a year ago, playing in League Two with Carlisle, which I really loved, to coming here and playing in the Premier League – which is every boy’s dream – I still can’t believe it.

“At Wolves it was half-time [I came on], this one I had more time to get into the game… I settled into it and just went on from there.

“Everyone on the pitch was helping me out with communication to get me through the game which was brilliant for a young lad.

“I thought I played well, although I’m disappointed with the result.

"It was important for us to show a good mentality after our last game, against Wolves, which I felt we did.

“The quality maybe wasn’t there in some patches but we controlled the game at times.

"We’ve just got to keep practising on the training pitch and I’m sure we’ll get better from here.”

Branthwaite was instantly at ease when he came on after 16 minutes against Villa and produced a faultless display as Theo Walcott's late strike saw the game finish 1-1.

His long stride, strength and nose for danger added up to an excellent defensive contribution.

He was poised in possession and looked perfectly at home in an Everton defence populated by experienced international footballers.

Branthwaite is plotting a route followed by fellow centre-half Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, signed essentially to join up with David Unsworth’s Under-23s with a view to making a first-team jump down the line.

That he is ahead of schedule, reckons Branthwaite, is down to exploiting an unexpected opportunity for a lengthy training stint with Ancelotti’s squad.

“It’s happened much quicker than I thought it would,” said Branthwaite.

“I was training hard with the Under-23s and then, as the pandemic happened, I got the chance to be around the first team [when Everton resumed training in May].

“I thought, ‘I’ve just got to train hard every day and see where it takes us’, and, thankfully, I’m out there playing.

“I loved my first few months at the Club. I’ve settled in really well… the players, the staff, everyone has been brilliant and is so close with us.

“[Players like Mason Holgate] I look up to.

“They’ve come through at a young age and got in the team.

“Mason’s a brilliant player, like the rest of the players in the team, and I’m just loving being here.”

Branthwaite stepped into a backline against Villa featuring Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane and Lucas Digne, internationals with Republic of Ireland, England and France respectively.

Behind him was England number one Jordan Pickford.

He is tapping into the knowledge of his senior colleagues, also looking to the exemplary Leighton Baines for advice.

Ancelotti has been impressed by Branthwaite as an all-round package, momentarily setting aside his frustration following defeat at Wolves to commend the left-footer’s maturity, and expanding after the Villa match to note the “quality, personality and character” of a player who turned 18 only last month.

“Everyone knows he [Ancelotti] is world class,” continued Branthwaite.

“I’m just loving being taught by him and have to keep going with that.

“I listened to his press conference [when he complimented my character] and had a smile on my face. It was good to hear.

“I can learn from the whole back line here.

“All the defenders have been helping me out with positioning.

"In training, Leighton, Seamus, they’ve all been telling me about my position, checking over your shoulder, running behind, everyone’s been brilliant with me.”