When you analyse Everton’s performances so far this season, there are several names you could classify as underrated.
James Garner comes to mind, as highlighted by our site last week. The versatile midfielder has been a consistent performer under David Moyes. His positional diversity has become a big asset in being picked week in and week out.
The ever-present Idrissa Gana Gueye is always a nightmarish presence for opposition midfielders. At 36 years of age, the Senegalese stalwart is as important to Everton as anyone in the starting eleven.
But there’s one name that stands out from the rest. When picking out an ‘unsung hero’, it’s someone who deserves their dues, someone who’s quietly having an excellent season for the Toffees, but maybe not getting the credit. That’s Michael Keane.
Keane’s rocky road to the starting eleven
It’s hard to believe Michael Keane is going into his ninth season in an Everton shirt. He joined from Burnley in the summer of 2017 for 25 million pounds, a sizeable fee for a defender, and for Everton, at the time.
For five seasons, he started nearly every game. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet. Then came Conor Coady, James Tarkowski, and Jarrad Branthwaite to squeeze his minutes out.
After four seasons of rotation, Michael Keane has finally found his starting feet again. After all, David Moyes had a tough decision to make in the summer. Would he look to bring in fresh blood to put pressure on Branthwaite and Tarkowski? Or would he stick with an out-of-contract Keane? It turns out the gamble paid off.
Staking a claim under David Moyes
Jarrad Branthwaite has been sidelined for the entire Premier League campaign so far, and he’ll have a tough task to get back in the starting eleven. Keane’s performances so far have been fantastic.
He pairs brilliantly with James Tarkowski in the heart of Everton’s defence in terms of physicality, providing a towering presence and matching defensive positioning.
He’s scored one goal, been involved in 11% of Everton’s goal involvements, and probably should have one or two more. His threat from set pieces and corners is another feather in his bow this season.
Statistically, he’s won more aerial duels than Gabriel or William Saliba. He’s made more tackles than Virgil van Dijk. He’s won more duels on the ground than Micky van de Ven. Not bad for what some fans classed as a liability this summer.
Keane keeping up appearances
It’s a cruel world in footballing terms to see players drop in and out of a team, having done nothing to warrant a change. Michael Keane may fall victim to that when Jarrad Brantwaithe returns fit and firing.
If Sean Dyche can be credited in absentia, he found a defensive partnership as good as any in the league. Tarkowski and Brantwaithe could be Moyes’ modern version of Yobo and Jagielka.
But strength in depth is key, especially when pushing towards European places and playing a season filled with Afcons, domestic cups, and two-match weekdays.
Whatever role Michael Keane plays to finish the first half of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, Everton fans shouldn’t be worried to see him slot seamlessly into the Toffees' defence.