Keane out for a month with hairline skull fracture

So the next game will see Zouma and Holgate paired; did anyone watch the U23s and see whether it will be Pennington, Galloway or Browning occupying the bench slot (assuming Mina isn't even fit for the bench)?

Pennington is next in line but he's been heavily linked with a move away on loan, particularly to high-flying Leeds.

I assume we'll let him go if one of the others can sit on the bench, Jags will be bench-able after next week.

Out of the three centre-backs making up the numbers – Pennington, Galloway and Browning. I think Browning is the best. His career could have been very different had he not had the injuries. That said, other than an appearing in the League Cup, I wouldn't be very happy playing any of these three in the Premier League.

It's a shame for Keane. He was the best defender yesterday. I think he'll partner Mina as our first-choice pairing when both are fit.

I'd be surprised too if Pennington returned to Leeds, as Bielsa has publicly stated he doesn't fancy him. Besides the reactions of the Leeds fans, who don't want him back either.

As I stated in an article last year on this site (The case for defence), Michael Keane lacks the speed, agility and power for a top defender and he cannot compensate for these failings by his reading of the game.

A Tony Adams or John Terry type could cope despite their speed agility weaknesses. Keane's weaknesses are further likely to be exposed by playing a high defensive line – he was badly exposed yesterday and only Holgates recovery bailed him out.

I suspect (hope) that Zouma will now play and be what is required and Mina will probably be in the equation by the time Keane is fit again. This probably saves Keane the embarrassment of being dropped as he has lost his place through injury (an occupational hazard) and we can move forward improved. We shall have to wait a few weeks before seeing how this works out.

To me he is a confidence player and early signs of him embracing that although with a long way to go. How much this injury will affect him is anybody's guess but the main thing is that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

He is however not good enough. Yes, the supposedly experienced Baines should have known better when he gave the blatant penalty away, yet he should not have been having to make that challenge. Once again (And I don't know how many times this happens; 2nd goal against Wolves in recent games sticks), Keane has an awful habit of letting the ball drift over his head; attack the ball or track & follow it, but don't let it drift over your head. That's docile ball-watching that 10-year-olds get shouted at for.

I said yesterday, he's not good enough and there was a reason he was at Burnley and didn't make it at Man Utd. We got done £30m for believing the latest English player over-hype.

That's my football view but I'll finish as I started, I wish him a speedy recovery.

Going forward now with several centre-backs to pick from, let's hope we can develop the team to the point where it picks itself.

Accepting injuries and suspension is a big part of the game too.

As for EFC we should be able to roll on regardless. Jags has one more game suspended and Zouma should slot in for the next game. After that Mina and Jags should be available.

I think Keane has a lot of great attributes, but we're just not solid playing a high line with him in the team. I think Baines was also probably at fault for both goals yesterday. I'm hoping Mina is more comfortable on the ball.

It should be remembered that Keane was carrying injuries early last season besides playing in a chaotic side. It would have been difficult for anyone coming in. I think a lot of people made up their minds from those early performances. Someone said that Keane is a confidence player and I agree with that. He has been improving since towards the end of last season but a lot of people won't deviate from their opinion. He has looked our best CB this season and in 2 of those games he was playing in a side with 10 men.

I hope he makes a speedy recovery and this doesn't become a major setback as he was starting to cement his place in the side.

All the best to Keanes recovery, but the healing time with fractures varies with people, and it could take longer than 4 weeks.

He’s out a month. It’s already been confirmed he won’t be allowed head contact for 3-4 weeks, at which point he will obviously be returning to training.

A real shame because the real player was beginning to emerge as his confidence began to come back to him – and scoring his first goal would only have added to this resurgence in form.

Chance for Zouma and Holgate now. Mina still a few weeks away I've read.

Good luck Michael.

Weeks?

He should be kept out for months, not weeks. Head injuries are no joke, and if he clanged his head hard enough to produce a hairline fracture, then he most certainly suffered a concussion.

I don't care what any official statements may say. My wife suffered a concussion at her workplace, and nine months later she is still suffering with the effects of post-concussion syndrome and can't return to work.
I know as fans we want to see our players back playing, but head injuries are unlike any other type of injury.

He may be able to recover quickly, and I hope he can, but he should not be rushed back under any circumstances. I don't know if he has suffered concussions in the past, but even if this is his first he needs to be very careful.

He has the rest of his life to think about. Here in New England we had a player, Taylor Twellman, who had to retire because of his concussions, and he STILL suffers with symptoms that he will have for the rest of his life. He gives talks about it all the time. Knowing what we now know about CTE and concussion damage, we need to expect long time recovery for these players.

I just wish the best for Michael Keane, and hope he can fully recover.

Keane discovers extent of head injury, sends message to fans

I sincerely hope the injury is not as bad as it sounds and that there'll be no complications at all and he'll recover soon.

I’m not fussy at all on Holgate as a centre back always felt he’s far too flimsy and anything in the air he really struggles to deal with.

Hopefully Zouma comes in and is ready straight away to bust some chops because we desperately need an end to this seeping goals lark.

Mina has a minor foot injury, that’s all. Expected back in a couple of weeks now. So Zouma steps in for Keane and partners Holgate. Jagielka will be on the bench for emergency, but hopefully not needed. Then Mina is available and Keane back a month from now. That’s why we have reserves, to handle a single injury. Just a shame if Keane loses his spot due to injury after he was really improving.

I hope you are right!

We have history with these “minor injuries “ that seem to keep players out for longer than they actually should.

As for yesterday, it was Baines who was at fault for the 2 goals, no way was Keane at fault. The ridiculous push, gave Bournemouth a lifeline, as for Wilson's header, all Baines had to do, was attack the ball, instead of standing still, waiting for the ball.

Hope he makes a speedy recovery, until then we have enough CBs to cover. When all are fit around November time, will be interesting to see who the first choice 2 will be.

Wishing him the very best... and no long-term effects.

John Wilson is correct about the possible aftereffects of a concussion, but every concussion is different. We can be sure he will be closely monitored and repeatedly tested. I seem to remember it took Chivu at Inter two months to come back after a similar fracture -- and he came back wearing protective headgear. Might not be a bad idea for Keane. (I wear it whenever I play a league game.)

Regarding a replacement, not sure how Galloway's name keeps coming up, but to my knowledge he hasn't played centre-back in 4-5 years. (And he hasn't played much of anything for 3.)

But Jagielka won't be available for two more weeks.

Similarly I hope his improvement and confidence continue to grow on his return, there is a good player there and potential, it would be great if it could be realised and he can compete with the others.

To really throw a hand grenade out there (and many will blow a gasket), I think we'll miss Schneiderlin more than Keane. The way Marco pushes up our full backs really high, we need defensive midfield cover offered by Gueye and Schneiderlin. Regrettably Davies blew his chance yesterday by not attending to any defensive duties. I think he'll live to rue this missed opportunity when everyone is fit.

I am not an expert on head injuries but I have a good background in concussions and the challenges that face athletes in trying to recover from them.

Returning to action having suffered a head injury and concussion has become a very important topic here in Canada and the rest of North America. When watching Michael Keane’s collision yesterday with Gana, I was not drawn to the clash of heads but more to Michael’s landing and subsequent whiplash that occurred when his head hit the ground. It was very pronounced and reminiscent of many whiplash car collision accidents.

Today’s very good news that Michael has been released from hospital appears to be a good sign. Medical reports that it is 'only' a skull fracture that will heal with 3-4 weeks without any surgery. There are several sorts of skull fracture but this appears to be a linear fracture which is by common consent the quickest and easiest to heal. What will concern the Everton medical team will be the degree of concussion Michael has suffered.

Returning to play has become one of the most complex problems that any athlete who has suffered a concussion can have. Despite many concussion protocols which have been scientifically and medically approved, there is no definitive guide to how long Michael will take to recover. Recognizing how important this Return to Play question is, the Canadian National Coaching Certification Program, requires all coaches to take a short online seminar so that they are fully aware of what to look for.

In my position at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Kinesiology, I come across too many student-athletes in my classes who have a concussion as a result of playing university sports. Each student-athlete recovers at their own pace and some, sad to say, never fully recover. They have to give up playing sport or change to a less dangerous sport and struggle to complete their studies due to headaches etc.

Added to the complexity of Michael’s recovery is the fact that he makes his living by heading the ball and going into many challenges where his head is subject to injury. It may well be 4 weeks for the fracture to heal but it may be many weeks before he is given the all clear to start heading a ball, and then no-one knows how long to regain his confidence to contest heading challenges.

A few years back, Stuart Broad, the England cricketer, was hit by a short-pitched ball even while wearing a helmet. His subsequent attempts to bat show clearly that he is now not comfortable playing the short-pitched delivery and does not get in line. His batting has suffered. Before this injury he had scored a test hundred. So return to play is not only physical but psychological.

I am sure all Blues wish Michael a safe and full recovery – no matter how long it takes. It’s Sod’s Law this happened after he scored his first headed Everton goal and had become very aggressive when contesting headed challenges.

He's been much better this season. An asset.

David #35, excellent post.

As with major injuries in sport committing 100% following will need confidence and reassurance. Just get well, Michael, from all the Everton family.

As you say, the hairline fracture may heal in 4 weeks but it will be more difficult to regain the confidence to make the aerial challenges necessary for a Premier League footballer.

Looking like he might get a few goals from corners the this season as well.

Holgate has really impressed me so far this season. Has really stepped up playing well - his passing skills a real plus.

Interesting article on BBC from Michael Owen re his hamstring injury... Something a lot of us suspected.

First and foremost, wishing Michael Keane a full recovery, secondly wishing him as much time as he needs, without pressure from the club. Some things are more important than football.

I/We can only hope he heals completely and faces his comeback trial with the same fortitude as Seamus did.

And like the Great Man said 'If you find yourself in hell, and lost... just keep walking'.

(Or hopefully heading!)

I asked in a post yesterday on the thread reporting Keane's injury if anybody had an insight into the potential consequences to the player, both physically and psychologically.

Your post answers my curiosity and then some.

Thank you.

Peter Cech came to mind when I read the comments about headgear. Would he be allowed to wear it as an outfield player?

The lad sustained this injury doing what I for one had been calling for him to do – "attack the ball". Well he certainly did that on this occasion – he never took his eye off it.

On the topic of Galloway, it seems like as soon as he signed a new 5-year deal his career has gone downhill? Same thing happened to Garbutt. George Green also mentioned money made him lazy.

Sometimes kids have too much money too soon and they really didn't know how to handle it. It happens in other sports too.

All the best Michael. You had started to look the player we knew you could be. Get well soon.

We sometimes get carried away with the idea that these are super-fit young men and should be able to recover from these types of injuries quickly.

Caution is required here.

I wish him a full and speedy recovery and hope he is back fighting for this place back in the near future. Two months for this sort of injury would be a safe resting period.

On the football, I agree with Stephen Williams (above) in that Davies failed to cover the defence in the way that Schneiderlin does. The Frenchman has improved of late and it will be good to see him protecting whatever centre-back pairing we come up with.

As for Davies, I think he needs more games under his belt and he needs to learn to slow things down at times. With the energy of Gueye and the pace on each flank, Davies doesn't need to rush around so much, often snatching at his passes.

Davies is rightly keen to make an impression, but I think that once Gomes is ready, he will be sitting on the bench.

Sad that he will now lose his place in the team and it will be a fight for him to get back in. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Clearly he wouldn't be considered for any of the back 5 positions and, realistically, would he get in front of:

- Richarlison, Walcott, Lookman or Bernard for the two wide midfield positions,
- Sigurdsson or Bernard for the number 10 role, or
- Tosun, Calvert-Lewin or Niasse for the central striker position?

I can't see it.

Therefore the only position available would be as the (slightly) more advanced defensive midfield position alongside Schneiderlin or Gana.

It is this position he had auditioned inadequately for for the best part of the last two games and (I expect) against Rotherham.

With two must wins coming up against Huddersfield and West Ham before we get a tougher run of fixtures, Marco may struggle to offer Davies more game time so he mightn't get the opportunity again for quite some time.

All this without factoring in Gomes when he returns to fitness.

I have nothing against the kid, all I want is a winning Everton and if that includes an effective Davies as an integral part then great, but I just don't see him securing a berth. I also don't see him being released for game time on loan until both Schneiderlin and Gomes are fit, by which time the loan window will be closed. Shame.

No need to rush back any head injury.

Rose like a salmon on Saturday.

We need him back fit and well regardless of the time it takes.

Right now Davies is only going to regress even further, he’s not good enough to earn more starts and we can’t just say give him games if it’s to the detriment of the team, he offers pretty much zero so how can more games be justified?

Get to January and then get on the phone to someone like Preston or Derby etc and see if they might be interested in giving the lad 15 games.

Sigurdsson and Gana with Bernard and when Gomes is fit that’s my midfield, Walcott wide.

Davies might be starting but he shouldn’t necessarily be the starter.

I like Tosun for his work ethic but right now he’s not operating in the box to get in scoring positions anyway?

And by the way, Tosun is operating excellently, in the box and out. He's making runs, assisting, holding up play very well. Hasn't scored yet but he will.

I’m not totally against seeing Richarlison playing down the middle as striker, the more I see of him the more I see shades of Thierry Henry you know?

I think Tosun works hard but is he going to be a reliable source of goals and mobility, hmm not sure yet.

His main failings are his lack of agility/ pace off the mark (I think his top pace when he gets there is reasonable) and out-and-out bravery at times. He's never going to be nippy or agile but better anticipation definitely can lessen those failings, and he already seems to have toughened up a fair amount from his worst showings (how this injury will affect him will possibly be crucial in that regard).

Too many people seemingly play fantasy football with our players, mentally shipping them out willy-nilly when the all-round replacement they envisage is either rare as hen's teeth or only exists in their imagination.

Agreed about Gomes, but don't you think Tosun lacks the predator instinct . . he's hardly ever there - in hurt the opposition territory.

Nobody will ever accuse him of being Gerd Muller

He's coming to the ball much more this year, moving much more away from the goal, I suspect because that's what Silva wants. He's doing a really nice job of holding up the ball, and a couple of his layoffs have been lovely, like that one for Richarlison's goal.

I think he's a perfectly adequate Prem striker, nothing special but a great hardworking attitude. I suspect that if we progress well this season, it's a position Brands will address next summer.

They are not raw 17-year-olds any more. If they can't do it for Everton now with the amount of opportunities they've had, they never will. I personally think they both have a future but sending them on loan isn't the answer. They need to take their chances.

It makes me laugh when people talk about lack of depth and squad numbers then want all the so-called youngsters (20/21?!) sent out on loan because they are not tearing it up. The best players are producing at that age.

I think if we sold Calvert-Lewin and Davies for modest fees like we did Vaughan back under Moyes, for example, I very much doubt we would be looking back in about five years time with too many regrets.

I think they'll forge decent careers at a lower level but I don't think either have looked good enough to make waves at the top half of the Premier League.

Is Calvert-Lewin as good as Vaughan even was at 21, I doubt it.
I'm not even sure he's as good as Anichebe was, a player never popular due to his lazy arse attitude but still turned in some goalscoring cameo appearances from the subs bench on many occasions.

Calvert-Lewin runs a lot but just never has looked like being anything to write home about in front of goal.

None of us can tell the extent of the damage or short/medium/long term effects of a head injury. I managed to bounce my head/face off the road about 7 years ago in a bike crash and it took me a full year to recover from that - I had a small bleed on the right side of my brain but no skull fracture which meant I had numerous issues with memory, balance, chronic-headaches and vertigo, all of which had to be contained with medication and various unpleasant therapies. Waking up 3 days later on a neurology ward is a very odd experience! It also meant 4 complete months off work and a graded return which took over 9 months. Even now, 7 years later I suffer with occasional chronic headaches which may never leave me.

You simply cannot begin to speculate on how long it will take Keane to recover - estimates are not based on any medical fact at all, and every head injury case must be taken in complete isolation. I cite my own experience as one that had to be taken day by day, week by week etc.

I shuddered when I saw Keane go down like that, and hopefully he WILL be back quickly, just don't bank on it, nor speculate on something none of us know the answer to.

What I'm saying is we keep going on about defensive midfield, if you're a midfielder, you do both attack and defend — it's simple.

He is good and his role is one of the positives of what Silva does. Unlike the defence which seriously concerns me. Silva has done exactly what I thought he would do. Most is to be admired but the defence has the relegation factor that is a worrying trademark.

Our defending remains abysmal,it seems to me that the admirable Silva is trying to teach old dogs new tricks.