Jarrad Branthwaite hopes his injury problems are behind him as he looks to make up for lost time having gained an England recall.
The centre-back spent a month in Germany this summer in order to resolve two seasons of problems and his early-season form has been rewarded by a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad for Nations League matches against World Cup winners Spain, Croatia and Czechia.
Branthwaite's solitary cap came in a 30-minute substitute appearance against Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of Gareth Southgate's World Cup warm-up preparations in June 2024.
That summer he was a target for Manchester United, who failed to meet Everton's £70 million ($94m) valuation, before a groin operation and then a thigh problem sidelined him until Oct.
Last year complications with a hamstring injury sustained in preseason resulted in more surgery and delayed his campaign until January, but he was restricted to just 10 appearances before being carried off with another hamstring issue in April's Merseyside derby.
But this summer the player and his club made a concerted effort to get to the bottom of his problems and he has played every minute of the Premier League campaign so far, having been rested for Everton's two Carabao Cup matches.
"I sat down with the club after the three or four times where I was picking up the injuries. It was to look at the wider picture, look at the holistic approach of the body essentially," said the 24-year-old.
"I went over there [Germany] for three or four weeks, working with a team alongside the club, just to assess different things and hopefully that has helped.
"There were a lot of different things looked at like movement patterns, the brain. It was quite complex but fingers crossed it has worked.
"It is probably the worst thing as a footballer not to be on the pitch and when it keeps happening it is mentally tough because you are sort of doubting your body and [are] going on the pitch wary of what is going to happen.
"I think now I am in a position where I got managed throughout the pre-season, managed my load well and hopefully I can stay on the pitch this season."
Branthwaite knows those injuries have dropped him well down the pecking order but a first call up by Tuchel is a step in the right direction to challenging the likes of Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa for a place in the starting line-up.
"Being out for such a long time with injury didn't help, missing three or four of the camps and missing a lot of football," he added.
"My aim is to stay injury free and play as many games as I can and keep giving myself the best possible chance to be in the squad.
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"I've not spoken to him [Tuchel] recently. When we get there we'll have a chat, I can't wait to join up with the squad and enjoy the couple of weeks.
"It is a proud moment. The last season or so, it has been a target of mine when I've been out and not on the pitch to get back playing and give myself the best possible chance of being in and around the England squad after missing a length of time out.
"The season has started well individually and as a team and I think that has definitely helped.
"I believe I am good enough to be in the England squad so hopefully I can show that."
