‘Unbelievable’ – Troy Deeney amazed by recent performance of previously criticised Everton player
Troy Deeney praises Everton defender Michael Keane as "unbelievable" following his performance in the 2-0 victory over Ipswich on Saturday (19 October).
Everton extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a victory at Portman Road, where Michael Keane scored a stunning second goal from a tight angle.
Ashley Young was also featured in Troy Deeney’s Team of the Week, but most of the praise went to Keane for his standout performance in a key match for manager Sean Dyche.
In his BBC Team of the Week column (22 October), Deeney wrote, “Keane has faced a lot of criticism from Everton fans over the years.
Against Ipswich, he was excellent; not one bad tackle, always in position, and what a goal — an unbelievable finish with his weaker left foot.”
Keane’s recent form has created a selection dilemma for Dyche.
Injuries to Jarrad Branthwaite have forced Dyche to use Keane alongside James Tarkowski this season.
The campaign started poorly, with four consecutive defeats and a leaky defense. However, the team has turned things around over the past month.
Branthwaite is expected to return soon and is likely to reclaim his starting spot at Goodison Park.
The young defender had a breakthrough season last year and was one of the few bright spots during a challenging period marked by points deductions and relegation battles.
Given Keane’s current form, there’s a possibility he could be chosen over Tarkowski, but it’s more likely that Keane will return to the bench once Branthwaite is fit.
Although Dyche could experiment with a Keane-Branthwaite pairing, it seems unlikely unless Tarkowski is sidelined ahead of their next game against Fulham on Saturday (26 October).
