Blues centre-half suffered injury in sickening clash during draw with Cherries
Michael Keane will miss three to four weeks’ worth of action for Everton after he suffered a hairline skull fracture in last Saturday’s draw with Bournemouth.
The centre-back collided with teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye in the 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium – knocking himself out on Gana’s shoulder before smacking his lower back and head on the turf as he fell to the ground after he won an aerial duel.
Keane was quoted by Everton’s official website after he was discharged from hospital on Sunday, and explained that he would sit out matches until late September due to the injury.
In a statement, the 26-year-old thanked the medical staff of the Blues and Cherries, as well as the team at Poole Hospital, who had looked after him in the aftermath of the sickening incident.
Keane was attended to on the pitch immediately after he was knock unconscious, and both clubs’ teams of medical experts and ambulance staff set about ensuring he could removed from the field as safely as possible.
He was given oxygen, put in a head brace and stretchered off the pitch to applause from all four corners of Bournemouth’s home stadium before he was whisked off to hospital for an assessment and tests.
Keane had started the 2018/19 season in fine fettle for Marco Silva’s Toffees, and had bagged his first goal of the campaign as he buried Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross to make it 2-0 on the day.
That strike came after Theo Walcott had put the visitors in front following Richarlison’s silly red card, but Everton couldn’t hold for the three points as Bournemouth fought back with two late goals.
The ex-Burnley star appears to have been given a shot of confidence and a new leash of life under Silva after the 41-year-old replaced Sam Allardyce at the helm in June.
If Keane can return to full fitness and pick up where he left off, he should have a great season for Everton – providing he can get back into the team.
Kurt Zouma should deputise for Keane in the latter’s absence, with Mason Holgate likely to partner him until Yerry Mina or Phil Jagielka return from injury or suspension respectively.