Paul Robinson says that he expects Michael Keane to bounce back for Everton, claiming that his ability isn’t in doubt.
The Everton centre-back has been dropped from the Toffees’ starting line-up as well as England’s squad in the past couple of weeks, marking a tough spell for the 26-year old.
In Yerry Mina’s brief absence last month, Mason Holgate performed well for the Blues when he was called upon to deputise, and his performances were impressive enough that he kept his place when Mina came back, with Keane the casualty in that scenario.
Keane was forced to watch from the bench during Everton’s eventful 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday, and Mina and Holgate are expected to remain as first choice centre-backs.
Robinson though, who played with Keane at Burnley, has backed him to recover. As reported by Football Insider, Robinson said:
He’s not had the best of start to the season. It’s hard when you’re a player who’s struggling for form and struggling for confidence when your team’s not playing well around you.
I played with Michael Keane at Burnley, he came on loan to Blackburn as a youngster as well so I played a couple of times with him.
He is very much in the same mould as Ben White at Leeds, very much that type of centre-half, comfortable with the ball at his feet.
His positioning at times is questionable, he is very, very much a confidence player. His performances this year and the way that he’s cost England goals, it’s been uncharacteristic for him but he’s got that in his game.
I think it’s the first time he’s ever really suffered criticism so for him to react to that and see his response to that is going to be the most important thing for him. I don’t doubt for one minute his ability at all.
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I definitely don’t agree with Robinson on the last point, first and foremost. Keane is definitely out of form, but he’s hardly faced any criticism comparable to the grief he received two season’s ago, where he was slammed on a near weekly basis.
However I do agree that Keane is a confidence player, and that can be difficult when everyone around you is also capitulating. Ultimately though, as a professional Keane need to rise to the occasion, regardless of the performances of his teammates.
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