Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite says he improved working with Ruud van Nistelrooy last season.

Branthwaite spent the year with PSV Eindhoven under Van Nistelrooy.

He recalled to the Liverpool Echo: “As a striker Ruud knew what defenders didn't like so he was always giving me little tips, about body positions and how to defend against different kind of strikers, which helped me massively. The whole experience matured me as a player, as a man as well and I came back a much better player than I had been 12 months previously."

Branthwaite added: “After games we'd go back to the training ground and look at the computers that we'd watch the games on. There would be little things about body shape with different strikers whether they were big ones or quick ones on the half-turn ready to go in behind.

“That's something I've learned a lot and it's definitely helped me coming back here because when you're playing a high line you need to be ready to turn but also ready to go in and engage a striker. So it's something that has definitely helped me."