Daily Mail columnist Jamie Redknapp has surprisingly included Everton centre-back Michael Keane in his latest team of the week, and it is a decision that many Toffees fans on Twitter won’t agree with.
Having been left on the substitutes’ bench for Carlo Ancelotti’s first match in charge of the Toffees against Burnley on Boxing Day, the England international returned to the starting XI in place of Yerry Mina against Newcastle United on Saturday as the Italian rotated his team.
The 25-year-old was part of a side that came out 2-1 victors at St James’ Park, having started alongside Mason Holgate and having been subjected to the physical threat of the Magpies’ Andy Carroll from the opening whistle.
According to WhoScored, the former Burnley defender was only the third-highest rated of the four-man backline against Steve Bruce’s men, while SofaScore say that he won just three of the 18 aerial duels he faced during the encounter.
It is probably quite shocking then that he was one of two Premier League centre-backs to get the nod from Redknapp given all of the various choices.
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These Everton supporters will certainly think so given their comments about his latest showing…
Some Everton supporters suggested that Keane was actually outshone by Holgate against Newcastle, with one picking out his long-range passing as a big positive.
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Perhaps they are indicating that he would have been the better choice in Redknapp’s XI than his fellow Englishman.
Another even decided to compare Keane to former Toffees centre-back Ashley Williams, who was criticised over and over again for his performances by the fans on Twitter.
In other Everton news, this Sam Allardyce signing could be the big loser after Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical masterstroke paid off…