'Unbelievable': Troy Deeney left blown away by £30m Everton player who fans have often criticised

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Everton's trip to Ipswich Town last weekend felt like a must-win game for Sean Dyche, and his team certainly delivered down in Norfolk.

Everton won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Illiman Ndiaye and Michael Keane, a deserved victory for Dyche's side on the road, their first of the season.

After eight games played, Everton are now 16th in the Premier League, a far cry from where they'd want to be, but it's redeeming that a significant gap to the bottom four has now been created.

In that respect, Everton will only be looking up the table, a push that will soon be helped by the proper return of Jarrad Branthwaite.

Dyche's side have sorely missed the 22-year-old, who's been the better half of a centre-back partnership with James Tarkowski.

But perhaps Everton may not need to rush Branthwaite back to fitness after all.

Everton won’t rush Jarrad Branthwaite after Michael Keane’s form

During Branthwaite's injury absence, Keane has been filling in alongside Tarkowski, a player who's endured difficult spells of form on Merseyside in the past.

However, the £30m defender is certainly now taking his chance, and his strike against Ipswich was nothing short of superb.

READ MORE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be set for Everton contract U-turn

That being said, Troy Deeney included the former Manchester United and Burnley player in his Team of the Week after his goal and clean sheet.

And when praising Keane, Deeney mentioned the fact that fans have often been on the defender's back in the past.

Deeney said: "He has received a fair bit of criticism from Everton fans in the past few years.

"Away to Ipswich he was excellent; not one bad tackle, not once out of position, and what a goal. An unbelievable finish with his weaker left foot."

Ashley Young also praised in win over Ipswich Town

Incidentally, Deeney also included 39-year-old Ashley Young in his TOTW, saying the defender wasn’t beaten one-versus-one once.

Young was praised for the amount of running he got through during his 95 minutes, a testament to the condition he maintains.

Of course, Dyche also deserves credit for getting the best out of two defenders who most Premier League sides would probably overlook.

Everton fans would prefer their back line to be back to full strength of course, but it is rewarding that their manager is able to get so much out of the likes of Keane and Young.

That being said, Everton may still be at risk of losing one key player in January.