Report: Everton make decision on Lewis Gibson with Carlo Ancelotti impressed by Jarrad Branthwaite

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Everton will not be calling on Lewis Gibson for the Premier League restart, with the England youth international reportedly set to remain at Fleetwood Town for their promotion play-off battle.

It was previously suggested by The Guardian that Everton might apply for special dispensation to use the youngster in the remaining games of the Premier League season, with his loan spell at Highbury Stadium set to expire at the end of June. 

With Yerry Mina injured, it seemed a sensible precaution to bring in the £6 million 2017 recruit (Liverpool Echo).

But with Fleetwood now set to play in the League One playoffs, the Liverpool Echo is reporting that Gibson will remain with Joey Barton for the rest of the season.

Everton are instead likely to turn to Jarrad Branthwaite, a January addition from Carlisle United, should they need to look beyond the crocked Mina, Mason Holgate, and Michael Keane. 

The Daily Mail has suggested the 17-year-old is likely to feature in the first-team squad for the upcoming Merseyside derby. It is claimed that Carlo Ancelotti has been impressed by the teenager, who could cost an eventual (Mail) £1 million, in training and he could be fast-tracked to the first-team picture. 

It is not the first time that there have been reports of Ancelotti being impressed by the newbie and it could be that Gibson sticking around with the Cod Army is related to Branthwaite’s impression on the Italian boss.