Manchester United star Phil Jones comments offer hope to Everton’s struggling Michael Keane

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Michael Keane made a solid start to his Everton career but has lost his way since.

The centre back signed for Everton for £25 million from Burnley in the summer in what looked a brilliant piece of business for one of England’s top defensive prospects.

After starting his career with Manchester United the move to the Toffees was seen as the logical next step in Keane’s career.

But – much like the team – Keane has had to overcome a poor run of form after a bright start at Goodison Park and his return to the team against Bournemouth coincided with their first defeat in eight, and first under new boss Sam Allardyce.

Keane’s lack of match action over the last few months has seen doubt cast over his England hopes.

But comments on Sky Sports from Manchester United star and fellow England centre back Phil Jones have offered Keane hope that his career is in the right hands under Allardyce.

“I owe him (Allardyce) a lot of thanks (for showing faith in him to launch his career at Blackburn Rovers), I will be forever grateful,” Jones told Sky Sports.

“As a young player, you need as much support as possible and he gave me that and gave me the chance.

“He’s good at what he does, he gets results.”

Keane’s confidence will be low at the moment and hearing a fellow and more established England international talk in such glowing terms about Allardyce will give him plenty of encouragement.

Ironically Allardyce was criticised for failing to promote youth from the academy at former club West Ham.

But Jones is proof that if you are good enough you are old enough under Allardyce and Keane is in the right hands if he wants to keep improving and make Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Russia World Cup this summer.