OPINION
Adrian Durham seemed baffled over why Everton defender Michael Keane had made the latest England squad and shared he had to check the list twice as a result.
Gareth Southgate revealed his latest squad, as first shared on the England team’s official Twitter account, on Wednesday and the Toffees 26-year-old was one of the four centre-backs to make the cut.
?
Here it is – the #ThreeLions' squad for our opening two #Euro2020 qualifiers:https://t.co/3seiPqsZrO
— England (@England) March 13, 2019
Yet Durham shared he had some problems with the squad and instantly highlighted the inclusion of Keane and claimed that the player had endured a tough season, though added it may not have been his fault.
“I do have some problems with the squad, Michael Keane, I had to look twice to see if he was in there as it has been a tough season for him not because of personally but because of those around him,” said Durham on talkSPORT (Wednesday, March 13th, 16:12).
“I think he should have been left to focus on Everton.”
This statement does a major disservice to the Everton enforcer as he more than deserves his call-up.
Keane has excelled and shone bright in a lot of his 29 appearances this season and the fact he has done it while Marco Silva’s side have been struggling at the back makes it even more impressive.
This is especially the case when you consider that the defender had a morale destroying 2017/18 campaign when nothing seem to go right for him, as it shows the strength of character he has in order to turn his Toffees career around.
Keane in particularly wowed in the recent 0-0 with Liverpool and given his strength, positional awareness and the fact he is comfortable on the ball he will fit smoothly into Southgate’s system.
The 26-year-old has so much going for him and Durham has done him a major disservice by doubting the fact the enforcer warranted an England call-up.