Jarrad Branthwaite is one of the most talked-about young defenders in the Premier League and has been linked with a move to a host of top clubs.

David Moyes' clear message is that he does not have to leave Everton to gain international recognition, citing goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as a good example.

And BBC Sport understands that Branthwaite remains in the thoughts of England manager Thomas Tuchel.

Sources told us that Tuchel spoke to more than 55 players individually on the phone around the time he named his first squad.

And Branthwaite confirmed he was one of those players, saying he shared a video call and exchanged messages with the German boss, adding: "It is nice to have that connection with the new manager and to know he is watching you play and lets you know how you have done."

There have been reports that Jarrad Branthwaite is considering his future at Everton after he missed out on selection to Thomas Tuchel's first England squad.

But David Moyes said today that the defender had not approached him with such concerns.

The 22-year-old centre-back earned his one and only international cap under Gareth Southgate last summer, in the run-up to Euro 2024, but did not make the final cut for the tournament squad.

He then missed the autumn's Nations League fixtures with a groin injury but would have been hopeful of selection for the recent World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

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David Moyes' news conference brought up several interesting points.

We will have more on Everton shortly, including Jarrad Branthwaite's stop-start England career, Everton's good run and Moyes' record at Anfield.

Everton

More from David Moyes on trying to claim first win at Anfield as Everton manager: "It would be huge for us as a club to get that because it is not something that the club has done particularly often [either]. It has always been difficult. I've had a few draws there, which I remember well, but it is always tough. It's not just us, it's tough for a lot of clubs in the Premier League to go there and get a result."

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Southampton

Southampton manager Ivan Juric has provided an injury update ahead of hosting Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium: "Will Smallbone will be out. I hope that he will be better next week or in the final part of this week. The others are all fit, including James Bree."

Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are both fit despite picking up slight knocks on international duty.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner on team news: "We will miss Chris Richards tomorrow. He is struggling a bit with his calf. It doesn’t look very serious, so we expect him against Brighton at the weekend. But tomorrow is a little bit early.

"Everyone else is fit and available.

On Jean-Philippe Mateta: "JP is fine. He had 65 minutes at the weekend and he looks like he is getting back into his rhythm. He probably trained a little bit better this week, than last week."

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We'll have more from David Moyes shortly.

But for now, let's go around the training grounds for more Premier League media conferences - starting with FA Cup semi-finalists Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner...

Everton

Everton manager David Moyes says the players should be the ones who are praised for turning the club around since his appointment as manager.

"It [the stats] says that the club and certainly the team are on a better trajectory than we were before. We've started really well. The players have done a brilliant job.

"There is a lot that can be said about a new manager coming in and I know it is our job to get them playing, but I have to say that the players have picked themselves right up, they have turned the whole place around - the crowd and the support - and they have gone on a run, which has been really good.

"Actually, we were a bit disappointed with a couple of the draws in there, that we didn't get victories.

"There might have been a couple of draws in there which we could have been a bit lucky with but, overall, I think the players have got everything they have deserved.

"They have got the results and we want to keep it going."

Everton

These stats were put to Everton manager David Moyes in his news conference to preview Wednesday's Merseyside derby at Anfield:

• Nine games unbeaten.
• Longest run without defeat since February 2017.
• Only five sides across Europe's big five leagues have managed to avoid league defeats during that period.
• Scored in nine successive league matches having scored just one in the previous six.

He was then asked what they say about the job he has done since being appointed as Sean Dyche's replacement as manager. Moyes' answer is coming up soon.

Everton

Everton manager David Moyes on what he would say to Jarrad Branthwaite if he felt he had to leave the club to further his England ambitions: "I would say to him Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott - that's three who we brought in and went on to become international players for England, which was a great achievement.

"I think Jarrad is in a position where he could easily go on and do that. I see it as a challenge for Jarrad to pick up and say 'come on, I'm going to show what I can do'.

"This club has developed quite a few England internationals over the years. We've got a very good goalkeeper who is playing for England as well."

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Everton

Everton manager David Moyes started his media conference with some team news.

Ukraine defender Vitalii Mykolenko is back in training but Moyes said: "We're hopeful that he will be OK but we still have to wait and see tomorrow exactly how he is."

On Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, who have also returned to training, he added: "Both of them are coming on great. Illi is a little bit further on than Dwight at the moment but it is great that they are back in training.

"It's helped us a little bit with having Dom [Dominic Calvert-Lewin] out as well. Dom is the only one who is really behind it at the moment. We are just waiting on him coming back, but the rest are all getting much closer to fitness."

More on Calvert-Lewin: "He's not behind [his own recovery schedule] just behind the others who are coming back just now. I've not got a date [in mind] with Dom yet [for his expected return] but he's back and on the grass so good signs he is getting closer to it."

Everton

Now we swing back up north, to hear from Everton manager David Moyes ahead of tomorrow's Merseyside derby...

Bournemouth

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola on having defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen back from suspension: "It's good to have them available again. They have given us high levels and they are in a good moment of form. We are probably now weaker in the offensive side. But it's difficult to have the perfect starting 11 and we have to adapt game by game."

On asked what message he has for clubs linked with the defensive duo: "I don't comment. For me, I don't have to give other clubs any comments."

Bournemouth

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, speaking ahead of facing Ipswich Town, on team news: "We are still not sure . We still have to train this afternoon. It's still less than 48 hours since the FA Cup game against Manchester City.

"Some players finished with some issues - normal issues. I expect them to be ready.

"Probably, Justin [Kluivert] is the one we are more in doubt of, because he finished with some issues against City and we have to check today if he is ready to go or if at least he can help us with some minutes against Ipswich.

"I hope everyone else could be ready again for tomorrow."

That's all from Pep Guardiola and Manchester City for now - but we have plenty still to come from Premier League media conferences this afternoon.

Now let's head to the south coast, where Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been addressing the press ahead of facing Ipswich Town tomorrow night...

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has always had one eye on the post-season throughout this campaign, with the extended Club World Cup still to come.

It was through that prism that he viewed the possible impact of Erling Haaland's ankle injury, as well as the race to qualify for next season's Champions League and a planned fans' protest about ticket pricing:

• Guardiola wished Haaland a speedy recovery before saying that doctors expect him to be out for five to seven weeks
• He admitted that there was no direct replacement for Haaland in his squad but that they would find a solution
• The City boss was clear on his belief that the fans had a right to protest against ticket pricing and that it demonstrated the club was "alive"
• But he added that he hoped the "people can be convinced" by the club's decision
• Finally, he called for the supporters to back the team against Leicester and in their race for Champions League qualification, which he dismissed as not one of the club's "toughest battles".

Manchester City have had to cope without Erling Haaland before.

The Norway striker was missing for 54 days between December 9 2023 and January 31 2024.

They managed to pick up a trophy - the Club World Cup no less - in that time, although City did have Argentina World Cup winner Julian Alvarez to fall back on. Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid in the summer.

Here's City's record without Haaland in that run last season:

• Played 11
• Won 10
• Drawn 1
• Lost 0
• Scored 32
• Conceded 9

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Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is one observer who won't be too disappointed that Erling Haaland misses Wednesday's game.

The former Netherlands and Manchester United striker described Haaland as a "pillar" of City's team.

"He's the best striker in the league," said the Foxes boss. "He's proven it. He's won everything possible. He's a class act. He's the best of the best. He has an A mindset, A quality and will continue with that for many more years.

"He has signed an extremely long contract and is one City are building around. He's a pillar in City's current team and in their future, so nothing but praise for him from my side."