"The most natural goalscorer to emerge from Everton's ranks for years,” was the verdict in the Everton programme back in February 1996.
So it was little surprise that Michael Branch was seen as Everton’s answer to Robbie Fowler. Comparisons to Michael Owen had also been made.
Branch was 'hailed as the player Evertonians had been waiting for', to quote James Corbett's book, The Everton Encyclopaedia. He made his debut aged just 17, in a team that featured Neville Southall, Dave Watson and Andrei Kanchelskis.
