Marco Silva says Everton defender Michael Keane has his “support” after the defender was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s win at Southampton. Keane had been an ever-present in the Everton rearguard until this weekend when he had to settle for a late cameo after he came on for Richarlison in the closing stages at St Mary’s.
The centre-half has also been omitted from the England squad for this week’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo – and Silva admits Keane is struggling for form at present.
However, the Everton boss is convinced the 26-year-old can rediscover his confidence and says Keane has his backing as he bids to force his way back into the Merseyside outfit’s starting XI. “Michael Keane has all my support,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “Like in the past when he joined the club, how he was and how he is in this moment. “Of course the others are playing really well. Michael will keep working really hard. If some games pass on the bench it is not the end of the world, and he knows that and for sure will become stronger because I believe in him.”
Silva had found himself under real pressure a few weeks ago but Everton are now unbeaten in their last three games across all competitions and have moved six points clear of the bottom three.
The Goodison Park club sit 15th in the Premier League table but are just three points adrift of Sheffield United in fifth spot heading into the international break.
Everton entertain rock-bottom Norwich City on November 23 in their next Premier League game and will be looking to make it three league games unbeaten at Goodison, having managed a win over West Ham and a draw with Spurs in their last two home games.
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