Michael Keane has admitted James Tarkowski does not get the recognition he deserves at Everton.
The centre-back pairing have played a lot of football together this season under David Moyes in what has been an excellent campaign for the Blues.
Everton have been solid at the back again this season, with Keane and Tarkowski racking up around 30 league appearances each.
Does Michael Keane deserve a new contract at Everton? 😬
He is currently set to become a free agent in the summer… 👋
Following Jarrad Branthwaite’s return, it is Tarkowski who has kept his spot at the back, with Keane admitting he does not get enough credit for his performances.
Michael Keane shares just how good Everton’s James Tarkowski is
Seamus Coleman thinks Tarkowski is an incredible leader for Everton as he has taken on the role as the on-field captain.
That is something Keane also agrees with, as the 33-year-old told The Fozcast just how impressed he has been with his centre-back partner.
Would you drop James Tarkowski for the Merseyside Derby? 😬
And if so, who are you replacing him with? 🫣
“I love playing with Tarky. I think he’s a great player. Yeah, I do [think he’s underrated]. He’s very good on the ball and physically strong. He never misses a game; he’ll block anything and head anything. I don’t know what more you could really want,” said Keane.
“He has developed into a really good leader as well. I think tactically he’s very good these days. You especially see him at half-time talking to the midfielders and wingers about what they need to do better and how he thinks they can change to help us.”
Tarkowski and Keane have a strong connection having played a lot of their career together at Burnley and now at Everton.
Questions remain over Keane’s future, with his contract on Merseyside set to run out at the end of this season.
Although the 33-year-old has praised Tarkowski, a lot of Everton fans have been impressed with Keane this season.
Keane has even been able to provide three goals for the Blues amid the struggles shown by the club’s strikers.
With European football on the radar for next season, Keane has demonstrated he is more than capable of playing a role in the squad for Moyes.
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