Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka have developed quite the defensive partnership at Everton in recent matches.
Everton and England centre-half Michael Keane believes he is benefiting massively from working alongside the likes of Phil Jagielka.
The two have found themselves paired together in the heart of the Everton defence in recent matches, and have begun to form a useful looking partnership, as the Toffees appear to have left a period of poor form behind them.
With 40 England caps and over 300 Premier League appearances for Everton, Jagielka is one of the most experienced defenders currently in the English game, and former Manchester United youngster Keane cannot help but soak up all the knowledge that the 35-year-old veteran has to offer as they continue to work and play alongside each other each day.
Speaking to the Everton website, Keane said: “I talk to him a lot about the experiences he has had. He has been through a lot in his career, ups and downs. And I get little tips from him about things on the pitch as well.
“But it is more just watching him so I can learn. He has been around for a long time and picked up a lot of things from other players.
“You can take a lot from just watching the way he goes about things. He was brilliant in the past two games, he is a great presence and leader and a good talker.”
At 35, Jagielka remains one of the club’s most important players, and Keane will be no doubt hoping to share the burden in terms of defensive quality to stand the club in good stead for when the former Sheffield United player eventually retires.
Should the 25-year-old finish the season strongly, he still stands a good chance of making it on to the plane heading to Russia this summer.
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