Everton: Michael Keane should have quit Goodison Park in January after Sean Dyche snubs
Everton defender Michael Keane has become a forgotten man at Goodison Park and another bench appearance against Manchester City leaves him regretting his decision to remain at the club.
Erling Haaland scored twice to help City see off a determined Toffees side on Saturday (10 February) and briefly move to the top of the Premier League.
Everton’s organisation and resilience had frustrated the defending champions, who had not managed a shot on target until Haaland struck with 19 minutes to go.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Ben Godfrey and James Tarkowski were key to the Blues’ solidity against Pep Guardiola’s men but it was yet another game in which saw Keane watching on from the bench, despite Godfrey being forced off with an injury soon after half-time.
Michael Keane should have quit Goodison Park in January
Keane hasn’t played a single game for Sean Dyche since the disappointing 3-0 defeat against Wolves on 30 December, even missing the two FA Cup games where Dyche will have been tempted to rotate his squad.
It was another performance to forget for the former Burnley defender who was woeful in just his fourth start of the campaign.
As per SofaScore, the 31-year-old was dribbled past three times, completed just 68 per cent of his passes, touched the ball just 37 times, won just two of his six ground duel attempts and lost possession of the ball ten times before being dragged off after 63 minutes.
Given Keane’s status in the squad, he certainly wasn’t short of offers in the January window, especially for clubs in need of a centre-back.
Turkish news outlet Sabah shared on 2 February that Besiktas wanted to sign him before their deadline on 9 February but no move materialised for the forgotten Everton defender who’s usually been a favourite of Dyche in the past.
The defender now looks to be the fourth-choice at best with Godfrey recently finding his way back into the team and may have leapfrogged him, and with just 18 months remaining on his contract at Goodison Park, it could have been the perfect time to move him on in February.
While Keane will be worth less in the summer, Everton would be able to replace him immediately.
Since taking over, Dyche is unlikely to have found too much in Keane’s game to be impressed with and as a result has felt led to wield the axe from his squad, with the former Burnley defender, who was a key man under Dyche at Turf Moor, not given a run out since 30 December.
That Wolves defeat could well be the last Everton fans see of him starting this season.
In other Everton news, Martin Keown and Alan Shearer were left stunned at what happened to one Everton player against Manchester City as footage emerged on Match of the Day.
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