Sky pundit Tony Cascarino has ripped into Everton defender Michael Keane and claimed that he has struggled in every game this season.
The centre-back made a £30million switch to Goodison Park in the summer from Burnley and has been in dreadful form since his arrival.
He has been a part of a Toffees defence that has conceded 18 goals in their opening nine Premier League games and teammate Ashley Williams is another that has come in for big criticism.
Ronald Koeman was dismissed as manager of the Merseyside club on Monday afternoon and David Unsworth will step up from the Under-23s to take charge against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Cascarino has singled out Keane for criticism by stating that he looks a shadow of the player that impressed with Burnley last season.
“He has struggled in all their games,” he wrote in the Times.
”He has been exposed by his midfielders but the solidity he showed for Burnley has vanished.
“He looks very susceptible in one-on-one situations and once he is turned by attackers with pace he is in trouble.”
Keane has already racked up 15 appearances across all competitions this season and the pressure is on him to reignite his top form.
He was called into the England senior team after his performances last season and any new manager will be looking to exploit the ball-playing defender.
OPINION
Keane has certainly dipped at the start of the season, but he is still just 24 and has time to turn it around. Everton are not blessed with top quality centre-backs in their squad as both Williams and Phil Jagielka are 30-plus and seemingly on the decline. Keane can become a big figure in the Toffees back-line and his confidence will be restored if his side can put a winning run together with some clean sheets. However, the fixtures don’t get any easier for Everton as they face Chelsea, Leicester and Lyon in their next three matches.