View: Everton defender should be in England World Cup conversation

Everton defender Michael Keane should be getting talked about as a potential option for England at this summer’s World Cup.

The 33-year-old has arguably had his best season in an Everton shirt in 2025-26, as he’s been a rock at the back for David Moyes this term.

Signed all the way back in the summer of 2017 from Burnley, Keane has now played over 250 times in all competitions for the Toffees.

However, with his contract set to expire this summer, he’s facing an uncertain future at Hill Dickinson Stadium despite how well he’s performed this year.

So, with seven games left in Everton’s Premier League season, Keane is set to continue playing a vital role in the team’s push for a European place.

How good has Michael Keane been for Everton this season?

Keane is expecting quality signings at Everton this summer if the Toffees do qualify for European football, which in turn casts more doubt over his long-term future on Merseyside.

He’s firmly re-established himself as an integral member of the starting lineup this season, starting 24 of his 27 league appearances, culminating in over 2,100 minutes of top-flight action.

Operating alongside James Tarkowski, the two experienced centre-backs have been perhaps one of the Premier League’s most underrated defensive duos this season.

But despite that, with the World Cup now a matter of months away, there is very little, if any, talk about Keane being on the Three Lions’ plane.

Capped 12 times at senior level for England, his last appearance for his country came in 2020, but yet even with his excellent performances for Everton, he’s seemingly not even on Tuchel’s radar at all.

As per Sofascore, he’s earned two team of the week inclusions, recorded a goal conversion of 14 per cent, has a pass accuracy of 86 per cent and a 94 pass per cent pass success rate inside his own half.

He’s also been a part of seven of Everton’s 11 clean sheets, averaged 6.4 clearances, 1.2 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 2.8 ball recoveries per game, as well as making zero errors leading to opposition shots or goals.

Keane has won 62 per cent of his aerial duels and 59 per cent of his ground duels respectively, whilst also recording a dribble success rate of 63 per cent.

Keane deserves a place in England’s World Cup squad

Looking at the squad Tuchel picked for England’s March internationals, there is a number of centre-backs in there that you can make a strong argument for Keane being more deserving of a place in the team.

When fit, John Stones is undoubtedly England’s best central defender, whilst Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Man City’s Marc Guehi have both also been very good this season.

Beyond those three, however, and Keane will feel he’s certainly performed as good if not better than the majority of the other inclusions.

Harry Maguire, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah and Fikayo Tomori all made the March squad, but Keane didn’t.

Not everyone can get picked, of course, and it’s not that any of those names haven’t earned a place in their own right, but if they have, then surely Keane has done enough to be in there?

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