Keane Reveals Reasons For Blues Optimism

Michael Keane says he and his Everton teammates will feel the benefit of a worthwhile workout against Accrington Stanley in the Blues' pre-season opener, while looking forward to a new chapter with the Club.

The central defender was one of four outfielders – alongside Nathan Patterson, Dwight McNeil and Tim Iroegbunam – who played the full 90 minutes as the Toffees played out a 1-1 draw to Stanley at the Wham Stadium on Tuesday evening.

After a first half where Everton were denied on several occasions by Accrington goalkeeper Ollie Wright, the hosts took an unexpected lead soon after the interval before Beto levelled proceedings with an emphatic penalty with 12 minutes remaining.

Speaking to evertontv after the first test of pre-season, Keane said: "We played some decent stuff. I think in the final third we can get sharper, but the lads have worked really hard for 10 days straight – even yesterday we had double sessions, so it's not easy. You don't feel fresh and at your best but that's what pre-season is for. We got through it and we'll feel better for it.

"[The start to pre-season] has been really good. It's been hard work with triple sessions pretty much every day. That's going to be good for us.

"Obviously, the manager knows exactly what he's doing and we're feeling better day by day.

"For me, to play at 90 minutes tonight is good. I think a lot of lads will feel better for that and we just keep building into the start of the season now."

Next up for David Moyes' side is a trip to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 19 July (3pm BST), before the Premier League Summer Series in the USA, which features games against Bournemouth, West Ham United and Manchester United.

The Blues round off pre-season with a home game in front of a sell-out crowd at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Italian giants Roma.

Looking to the future, Keane – after putting pen to paper on a new one-year deal to take his time with the Club into a ninth campaign – insists the Blues will be aiming high.

"I'm really happy to be staying," he continued. "To get it done in the end, I was over the moon and I can just crack on now, focus on football, train hard and make sure I'm ready when my chance comes.

"I think the defence has been really solid and everyone has played their part in that. It's mainly been Jarrad, Tarky, the full-backs and Pickers, but everyone's played their part and I'm looking forward to being a part of that again. We need to lay the foundations again in pre-season.

"It does [feel like a fresh start]. It'll be something that's really exciting and something I think the Club deserves. I think the fans deserve it. 

"The past few seasons have been tough and the fans deserve some positivity. The Premier League is a tough league and there's a lot of good teams spending a lot of money. Nothing is guaranteed but we've got to aim high – and why not?"