The two England internationals could be club team-mates next season, but Everton’s play will do little for their Three Lions chances.
A difficult season for Michael Keane went from bad to worse on Thursday when the Everton defender was left out of the latest England squad.
Last summer’s switch to Goodison Park was supposed to be the making of the centre-back, but he has gone backwards and Gareth Southgate has taken note.
With the World Cup fast approaching, Keane is running out of time to prove his worth to the England manager.
And Keane could soon find his place at Everton under threat, with Phil Jones – another man absent for the Three Lions – a target for Sam Allardyce according to The Times.
The logic of a centre-back moving to play under a defensive manager is clear, but Jones should be wary of Keane’s demise.
Everton’s style of play does not exactly go along with the passing game that Southgate prefers and appears to be basing his selections on, meaning Keane is already at a disadvantage.
And when you then consider Allardyce’s unpopularity with the Everton fans and their awful away form, Keane has very little opportunity to impress.
Jones is an established England international and yet injuries have often kept him from holding down a starting position with the Three Lions.
Even at this stage of his career, the Manchester United man needs to impress Southgate to be sure of a call-up. Everton is not necessarily the best place to do that.
It is a far cry from last summer when Goodison Park was the place to be for young homegrown talent.
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