Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has thanked manager Sean Dyche after making the England squad this week.

Branthwaite is grateful to Dyche for playing him regularly.

“If you said to me at the start of the season I'd come back and play this many games I probably wouldn't have believed you," said Branthwaite. “If you said at the start of the season I'd be in the England squad I wouldn't have believed you. It shows the progression I've made over the last season.

“For any young player to play in the Premier League, you've got to be patient. The standard's so high. Some managers won't necessarily want to put a young player into that situation. It's just whenever I got an opportunity, I thought I had to take it.

“He (Dyche) is good. He's believed in me since the start of the season. I've been in the team ever since so I can only thank him for the opportunity he's given me this season. He's a very hands-off manager who lets you learn the game and if he thinks any pointers need to be given he'll tell me."