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Everton grabbed another three points against Crystal Palace on Sunday evening, and fans should be absolutely delighted with the remarkable improvement of Michael Keane.

It’s hard to describe Keane’s performances for Everton last season without being too rude, but quite simply he looked like a deer in the headlights.

The 25-year-old seemed lost and confused under both Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce, but his performances since the arrival of Marco Silva have been nothing short of exceptional.

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The former Burnley man, who rose to prominence thanks to his dominant partnership with Ben Mee, is now forming a similar formidable pairing with Kurt Zouma, and it’s no surprise that he is the common denominator.

The Toffees had to fight hard for their three points on Sunday, and Keane was at the centre of everything good.

He was an absolute monster in the air, winning nine aerial duels. This is now becoming a regular occurrence, as he won eight balls in the air during the recent win at Leicester.

His reading of the game has improved massively this season, as he made three excellent tackles and a whopping eight clearances.

Silva also wants his defenders to be good on the ball, and Keane provided the assist for Cenk Tosun’s breakaway goal with a stunning swerving pass, all while completing an impressive 81 per cent of his overall passes.

Everton have been crying out for a long-term Phil Jagielka replacement for years, but Keane’s performance on Sunday showed they already have one right under their nose.

So, Everton fans, how impressed were you by Keane on Sunday? Is he the long-term replacement for Jagielka? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…