Michael Keane has done something no-one expected at Everton – Troy Deeney
Everton got back to winning ways at the weekend, with one of their stars earning praise for his role in the game.
Everton secured a 2-0 win against Fulham on Saturday, with the Toffees taking all three points for only the fourth time this season.
Form had been hard to come by lately, with just one win from their last eight prior, with pressure starting to creep up on David Moyes.
It was a team performance by the Toffees, but one player in particular caught the eye of Troy Deeney, who named him in his Team of the Week via BBC Sport.
Michael Keane earns plaudits for display vs Fulham
Michael Keane arguably should have conceded a penalty against Sunderland in their previous game, and was well aware that he would have to bounce back from what was a relatively disappointing display.
Against Fulham, he did, and his goal in the 81st minute was the cherry on top of a good all-around performance for the defender.
Keane nearly departed Everton on a free in the summer, and Deeney believes he has been somewhat of a surprise package for the Toffees this season.
He said: “Considering they let him go at the end of last year and he was exploring his options, he has arguably been their best performer this season.
“Another goal, another clean sheet at home to Fulham. I think he is really starting to express himself in a way that people were not expecting.“
- Read more: Carlos Alcaraz looks ‘mustard’ at Finch Farm despite latest Everton snub vs Fulham in new reveal
The numbers behind Michael Keane’s performance vs Fulham
Via FotMob, Keane’s goal arrived with an xG of just 0.16, though this was converted to 0.52 xGOT, showcasing just how well he took his opportunity.
He completed 33 of his 35 attempted passes and 50 per cent of his attempted long balls.
Defensively, he still showed some signs of fragility, with just three duels won out of nine, though his two clearances aided the Toffees in their pursuit of their first clean sheet since August.
It was a much-needed win for Everton and Moyes, who certainly have Keane to thank for the role he played.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Everton news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @goodisonnews