Cumbrian star Jarrad Branthwaite has gone under the knife today.

The teenage Everton defender has undergone surgery on his ankle in London.

It follows the ligament injury which ended his season prematurely during a loan spell with Blackburn.

Former Carlisle United prospect Branthwaite, 18, suffered the injury in training with the Championship club.

It was a blow for the talented defender just days after he made his first-team return for Tony Mowbray's side in a win over Derby.

The Wigton star made 10 appearances for the Ewood Park outfit in a loan move aimed at giving him further first-team experience.

That followed his move to Goodison Park from Carlisle in January 2020 followed by an impressive breakthrough into Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Branthwaite, who earned an England Under-19 call-up this season, returned to Everton after suffering the recent injury and will continue his rehabilitation after today's operation.

Mowbray recently said the highly-rated Cumbrian had all the qualities to go and have a top-flight career.

The Blackburn boss said: "He has all the attributes. He has a wonderful feeling at his feet [when] passing the ball, he is very quick, he's 6ft 5in.

"He just has to put all the bits together and we can all sit and watch his career develop.

"I'm sure it'll be a very positive career, and hopefully for him he has a good summer and gets himself fit to compete to get in Everton's Premier League team."