STUBBS HAS HOPES AND FEARS FOR KEANE

MICHAEL KEANE has struggled to settle into his new central defensive role at crisis club Everton – but a Toffees legend says he is the future of the club.

The Goodison outfit’s nosedive into the Premier League basement has sapped the confidence of a squad which started the season hoping for a top-six finish. Keane, 24, impressed at the start of his Everton career after his £30million summer move from Burnley. But the whole of the defence has suffered amid the sacking of Ronald Koeman, with caretaker boss David Unsworth managing one win in four games.

The snipers have been out in full force on social media but now Keane has been called back into the England fold, it is felt he will return to his club football full of optimism.

Everton legend Alan Stubbs knows all about the pressures of playing in the Goodison rearguard and firmly believes Keane will come out the other side a better and stronger player. Stubbs, who as a centre-back himself played 192 games across two spells with Everton, is perfectly placed to give his judgment on the Keane front.

He said: “He is the future of Everton in that back-line with him being the young, up-and-coming one. If you look at the British centre-halves Everton could have signed, he was absolutely the best one out there.

“I think he was a great signing. He will settle in really well. And playing alongside Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams will help him.”