The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

Former Scotland striker and current talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist believes Jarrad Branthwaite deserves a senior England debut when the Three Lions take on Belgium this evening - and has backed the Everton defender to one day captain his country.

"I think he's had an excellent season at Everton," said McCoist. "I've gone on record as saying England, defensively, probably aren't as strong as where they want to be. They've got some excellent players but I just think defensively, against your Brazils, your Mbappes, your Griezmanns and boys like that, they will get seriously tested. I'm not saying they won't handle it - but I would like to see Branthwaite get an opportunity, and hopefully he will on Tuesday. He would be the one player [I would like to see get a chance]."

McCoist added: "[Branthwaite] has been a breath of fresh air. We have sat here and talked about England’s problems and they have mainly been at the back and in the years to come I think that position, I will take it a step further and say there could be an England captain in there."

Elsewhere, a report on Sky Sports suggests the Club's three-day hearing into a second alleged breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules began yesterday.

Speaking on air, reporter Mark McAdam said: "[Yesterday was] significant because it was the start of the three-day hearing with regards to breaching their PSR commitments for the season 22/23.

"The honest answer is we are going to expect decisions to be made by April the 8th.

"It’s important to point out that this is completely different to the 10-point deduction which was initially given and reduced to six points, this is for a further breach in the following campaign of the season 22/23."

Finally, a rumour in the Daily Mail suggests Everton face a battle to keep hold of England Under-17 goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks this summer.

The stopper, who finishes school this summer and can then join the Blues' Academy as a scholar, has dual nationality because of his Latvian heritage and, as such, it is claimed to have potentially opened up options across the continent.

The story claims Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen "are among a clutch of top European clubs interested" in signing Lukjanciks, while Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Southampton are also linked.