Michael Keane ‘Mentally Stronger’

Michael Keane has revealed he is now mentally stronger after a difficult debut season.

The 25-year-old had a difficult debut season following his £25million move from Burnley, with injuries contributing to below-par performances.

Michael Keane: “There were a few months when things were going really badly and I did not really want to go and do things out of the house.

“It is really sad when managers get sacked and they talk to you for the last time and you see how upset they are.

“We had three managers in the end and it was difficult — all the change constantly happening”

“Although it wasn’t a great year, I took a lot from it.

“I learned a lot about myself. I’m probably mentally stronger and developed that thick skin because a lot gets said about you when things aren’t going well.

“You’ve just got to learn to deal with it and try to not let it affect you and that’s something I can take from it. Now I can sit here in the England camp and says I’ve come through that.

Keane also paid tribute to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright for helping him at low points.

“He (Kenwright) called me two or three times at the low points when people were saying what they were saying about me, because I wasn’t playing well and the team weren’t playing well.

“But Bill told me how much he believed in me and to keep working hard and that he had faith that I could become one of the greats of the club.”