Harry Redknapp names Michael Keane in team of the week after Everton win v Brentford
Harry Redknapp has named Everton defender Michael Keane in his BetVictor team of the week after his performance in the 1-0 win over Brentford.
The Toffees moved out of the relegation zone thanks to Dwight McNeil’s strike inside the first minute at Goodison Park, as Sean Dyche’s side made it three wins and three clean sheets in seven games since he took charge.
But former Tottenham boss singled out one Everton ace in particular for his performance in the game, and he went as far as to name him in his Premier League team of the week while speaking to BetVictor (13 March).
“I had a feeling that Michael Keane would be a big player for Sean Dyche,” he said.
“He’d been out the side, but Dyche knows him and when you’re in a relegation battle, you need players that you can trust.
“Everton look a much more organised side now and I thought the pairing of Keane and Tarkowski were terrific against Brentford.”
Surprising
It wasn’t that long ago where Keane was way down the pecking order at Goodison Park under Frank Lampard and fans couldn’t wait to see the back of him either in the January window or in the summer.
But since Dyche has come in, someone he worked with at Burnley previously, he’s managed to get back fit again and has now taken the starting berth from a fan favourite in Conor Coady which has put his long-term future in doubt.
Everton are being rewarded for the big decision being made too, with four points out of nine in his three starts and he’s turning in big performances too.
He seems to understand more what Dyche wants from a defender, and his aerial ability to go with his physicality and on-ball quality mean he isn’t that big of a downgrade on Coady either.
If it’s this decision that helps us stay up and be in the Premier League next season instead of the Championship, then we should be giving Dyche a new contract and Keane one too.