The Toffees defender, who came through the Manchester United ranks, scored England’s equaliser at Montenegro en route to a 5-1 win.
England got off to a bad start in Monday night’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro but Everton’s Michael Keane paved the way for Gareth Southgate’s side to eventually claim a 5-1 victory in Podgorica.
The Toffees defender scored his first international goal, powering home a header from ex-Everton man Ross Barkley’s inswinging free kick to draw the Three Lions level after Marko Vesovic drew first blood for the hosts.
Barkley, on top of the assist, then went on to score a brace, while Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet and assisted a goal for Harry Kane to wrap up a second emphatic qualifying victory for the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists.
Given the anxiety which sets in when a team falls a goal behind, Keane’s first for England yielded a mix of joy and relief, with retired England defender Rio Ferdinand making his feelings known on Twitter with a two-word message:
Ferdinand, once the world’s most expensive defender and one of the finest centre-backs produced by England in recent years, also retweeted the official England Twitter account’s clip of Keane’s goal.
Keane came through the ranks at Manchester United, the club with which Ferdinand spent most of his senior career, but spent most of his time on the Red Devils’ books playing away on loan, with stints at the likes of Leicester City, Derby County, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley.
After leaving permanently for the Clarets in 2015, he spent two years at Turf Moor before joining Everton, where he has made 68 appearances so far, while his England cap tally currently stands at six (Transfermarkt).
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
