I coached ‘baby giraffe’ future Premier League and England star – I’m not surprised Man Utd are interested in a transfer

STEVEN PRESSLEY was barely a month into life as Carlisle boss when he took on definitely one of the less glamorous sides of the job.

An unofficial reserve game at Oldham’s training ground on a typically cold North West winter’s day — and the new gaffer was on a fact-finding mission.

AFP

Jarrad Branthwaite (centre) training with England ahead of his expected international debut against Belgium[/caption]

Branthwaite cut his teeth at Carlisle in the EFLRex

PA:Press Association

Steven Pressley gave Branthwaite his big break when he was Carlisle manager[/caption]

It was February 2019 and as well as checking on the progress of those returning from injury, Pressley  wanted to see if any uncut diamonds lay beneath the senior ranks.

Two hours later he was back in the car, phoning director of football David Holdsworth.

As a former centre-back whose own CV included both Old Firm clubs, a place in Hearts’ Hall of Fame and 32 Scotland caps, Pressley knows a good defender when he sees one.

And in Jarrad Branthwaite, the raw-boned rookie who had blown him away, Carlisle had exactly that. He had to find out more . . . and tie him down.

Branthwaite was only 16, still to sign a professional contract, and — as his new boss said — “a bit like a baby giraffe”.

But he  stood out a mile and within a week the 6ft 5in local boy penned a two-year deal.

Pressley revealed: “No one had spoken to me about Jarrad, but when I went to watch that reserve game he caught my eye.

“It was one of those moments when you’re really excited about seeing such a good young player for the first time.

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“Straight after the game I rang my director of football and said,  ‘Listen, we have to get this young man tied up’.

“Obviously there was a lot of developing to be done and he was a  bit like a baby giraffe.

“Even though he was so big, he still had to grow into his body.

“But  he was two-footed and — for such a young player — already had the basics, which was obviously very encouraging.

“So was the fact that when I told his parents of my plans for Jarrad, it was clear what a supportive and sensible family he had.

“There were no ridiculous expectations, they just wanted  to see their son progress, which allows the proper process to take place.”

As it happens, that process went like lightning. A month later, Branthwaite was on the first-team bench. Two months into the following season he was a regular starter.

Pressley, now head of player development at Brentford, added: “To play 16 or 17 on the spin at centre-back in League Two, against seasoned pros, says everything about him.

“He had to understand things like protecting the space going for headers and develop the finer arts, but the foundations were all in place.

“People don’t realise how tough the mental side is for young players either,  but Jarrad handled it just as impressively.

“That temperament came from his stable background.”

Pressley was not the only one impressed. In 2020, after only nine league games, Everton snapped him up, sending him on loan to Blackburn and then to a year with PSV Eindhoven.

After returning with a  Dutch Cup winners’ medal, Branthwaite, now 21, started the season in the Toffees’ first team — and is now on Manchester United and Real Madrid’s radar.

He has also forced his way into Gareth Southgate’s Euro plans and is likely to make his Three Lions bow in Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium.

On his rise, Pressley added: “I said very early Carlisle had a future international.

“I’ll be very proud when it happens.

“It’s no surprise to see him linked with such big names. If he’s good enough to play for England, he’s good enough for United or whoever.

“There’s not an abundance of high-level centre-backs and he’s still three or four years off his prime.

“A player of that ilk, at his age, could be at the top for the next 15 years.”