Everton captain Phil Jagielka believes Michael Keane is regaining confidence despite England snub but warns: 'He is quiet... he needs to be a boss at back'

  • Michael Keane has been left out of England's squad to face Holland and Italy
  • Phil Jagielka insists Keane's poor Everton form was down to an unsettled team
  • Jagielka has called on club team-mates Keane to be more vocal on the pitch 

Phil Jagielka has backed Michael Keane to rediscover his best form after sensing the defender's confidence returning in recent games.

Keane was left out of the England squad for the friendlies against Holland and Italy over the coming week after a difficult first season at Everton, with James Tarkowski, who stepped into his shoes at Burnley, called up instead.

Keane has only seven games left to convince Gareth Southgate he deserves a place in the squad for the World Cup, but the 25-year-old appears to have at least secured his spot in the Everton side having started the last seven games.

Michael Keane (right) has been told by Phil Jagielka to become more vocal on the pitch

Michael Keane (right) has been told by Phil Jagielka to become more vocal on the pitch

His centre back partner Jagielka is not surprised it has taken Keane time to settle, telling evertonfc.com: 'I probably had six months where I did not play much (after joining) and Leighton Baines was similar. The good thing about us back then was that it was a settled team.


'Times have changed and it is a little bit different, but not having too many changes in the team does help people settle in and, hopefully, that will be the case until the end of the season. You can see Michael's confidence is coming back, so these games will put him in good stead going forward.'

Jagielka has been encouraging Keane to be more vocal on the pitch, telling the former Manchester United defender to 'be a boss'.

'He is quite a quiet lad and I have openly said, "Shout at me, shout at someone else, no-one is taking anything personally, we need to know where everyone is", and I think that is something he has in him,' said Jagielka.

'At the start of his career here we had a few difficult periods so it was probably natural to go into your shell a little bit. But I am encouraging him to be himself and be a boss at the back – whether you are a loud person on or off the pitch, when you are on the pitch you need to pass on information.

'It is getting that way and we have had some lively discussions on the pitch, which is brilliant.'

Jagielka (right) has heaped praise on Keane despite being dropped by England's national team

Jagielka (right) has heaped praise on Keane despite being dropped by England's national team