Not every member of the squad is there for their potential to be in the first team. Depending on what wage we are paying him, I'd imagine a big part of the decision to keep him on for one more year is the impact he will have on others in the dressing room as club captain and still a good spokesman for the team (Pickford's just been sent off again for decapitating Van Dead in the derby, and the press are outside baying for a quite?....send Seamus out there to give an Everton point of view).

You've also got to factor in, if people at the club see him as a potentially good coach and manager going forward, then it might be a good idea to blood him in that respect whilst he's still a part of the club, rather than letting him go elsewhere and be potentially distracted away.

The decision won't have been purely for 'sentimental' reasons and depending on the cost overall it will be good business.

Branthwaite just been seny