'Unbelievable' - Sky Sports pundit stunned by what heavily-criticised Everton man did at Ipswich

Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric couldn’t be criticised for conceding at his near post to Everton as Michael Keane’s strike was simply “unstoppable”, according to Darren Ambrose.

Reacting live on the world feed match commentary on 19 October the Sky Sports pundit was stunned by the “unbelievable” finish from the often-criticised Toffees defender, 31, as he lashed it into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 in the 40th minute.

Neat work on the edge of the box from Dwight McNeil found the centre-back in the Ipswich box, and although it looked like the angle was too acute he launched an “absolutely outstanding” finish in with his left foot.

Ambrose said (3.56pm): “That is absolutely outstanding by Michael Keane. It started with Dwight McNeil, allowed to turn a little bit too easily, but that is an unbelievable finish from a centre-half.

“Just a corner routine, it comes out here, Dwight McNeil look at this turn, just beats him. And this pass is sensational. But what about that? Yeah, they might say, ‘You can’t get beat at your near post’, but that’s unstoppable.”

Michael Keane superb in place of Jarrad Branthwaite for Everton

Keane has often been in the firing line during some of the darkest days on the pitch for the Toffees in recent seasons, including earlier this term.

At times the criticism has been warranted and at times he has been scapegoated for wider failings, but in the absence of star man Jarrad Branthwaite for the past two games he has been part of improved defensive performances and a pair of clean sheets.

When Everton are hanging on at the back he can at times be chaotic but there has never been any doubting his ability to strike a ball at the other end of the pitch, and the goal at Ipswich might be the best he has come up with yet.

The Toffees were said to be ready to let Keane leave in the summer as they bought Jake O’Brien from Lyon [Guardian, 29 July], yet Dyche has routinely started him over the new signing.

After four-straight losses to start to campaign left the manager’s job in doubt it looked like an obvious mistake, but at Portman Road at least the former Burnley man repaid his manager with an excellent goal and took enough confidence from it to put in an assured performance at the back as well.

In other Everton news, the Toffees are ready to let a striker leave in January as a plan has emerged on Armando Broja.

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