Sky Sports pundit: Michael Keane will leave Everton despite Arsenal start, James Tarkowski and Conor Coady ‘excellent’
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Michael Keane doesn’t have a future at Everton because James Tarkowski and Conor Coady have been “excellent” according to Kevin Campbell.
The centre-back surprisingly started the 4-0 defeat at Arsenal on Wednesday night (1 March), having only made a single Premier League appearance prior this season, and he has history at Burnley with Sean Dyche.
But Sky Sports pundit Campbell doesn’t think he is consistent enough any longer to have a chance of forcing his way back into the side on a regular basis.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News about whether Keane has a future at the club he said: “No I think that ship’s sailed.
“Tarkowski, obviously was a Burnley player under Dyche, and Coady, that partnership’s been excellent.
“Everton hit the bottom three and then they get two clean sheets out of three (Arsenal and Leeds at home), that’s huge.
“Michael Keane, he’s had good days and he’s had bad days but those guys are a lot more consistent than Michael Keane at present.
“I just don’t see Michael Keane forcing his way in.”
Coady have been exposed somewhat more of late than he was during a sparkling start to life at Goodison Park, but he has been an upgrade on Keane.
The lesser-spotted centre-back looked more assured in the first 40 minutes at the Emirates than fans have come to expect, with his presence in the side during the relegation battle under Frank Lampard last season often highlighted as a weakness.
At 30 he needs more than the infrequent appearances he has made so far this season, and with the likes of Ben Godfrey and Jarrad Branthwaite waiting in the wings it would surely make sense for him to move on in the summer.