Toffees stars are Keane to do their bit with wage cut

MICHAEL KEANE has revealed Everton stars are still taking a wage deferral – but their commitment to the cause has never been higher.

The defender and the rest of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad – including the manager – agreed to defer up to 50 per cent of their wages until the end of July.

But despite making the sacrifice, Keane says the Goodison Park dressing room is happy to help the club through a difficult time. He said: “It was voluntary for all the lads.

“It was a deferral for an initial three-month period and then we’ll see what the club says after that.

“They probably realised they needed a bit of help financially.

“But it has not, and it will never, affect the commitment of us as players.

Everyone here is very professional and it will never affect how we train and how we play.”

Keane (above) – who faces Wolves at Molineux today – has admitted he was irked when footballers were targeted by the Government and urged to do more to help their struggling clubs – and the NHS. “The criticism was frustrating. We’re in the limelight, we’re very well paid – but it just felt like we were an easy target,” he said. “Footballers would have donated money

– a lot of money – without the Government getting involved. “People have seen the work that players and clubs do during normal circumstances, so it was a bit unfair.” Keane also believes bitter rivals Liverpool have signposted the way for Everton to start challenging for top honours under Ancelotti.

The England defender believes Everton are in the same position Liverpool were in five years ago.

He said: “As a club we obviously want try to compete at the top end of the league. “We know it will take a bit of time and won’t happen overnight, but we’ve seen even from Liverpool it can be done.”