Everyone's KEANE to give praise for Michael's Everton renaissance

Michael Keane has indeed been excellent ~ there is little doubt in my mind that he has been Everton's best defender.

- Joe Thomas

There was a spell at the end of the first half at the Stadium of Light when the Blues were overwhelmed by Sunderland but just about held on to halftime thanks to four of five key interventions by the centre-back - most notably to cover when Wilson Isidor appeared to have been sent through on Jordan Pickford's goal.

The Blues started the second half badly and struggled for the rest of the match, but Keane was key to protecting what now feels a better point than it did at the time.

With his two goals, there is a fair argument to name him the best attacker at the club, too. That is a bit harsh on the forward players who have transformed Everton this season. David Moyes now has a team that looks comfortable on the ball and clever enough to sustain possession in attacking areas and probe opposition defences to look for ways through.

I like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a lot and I think we have all been impressed with the way Jack Grealish has gone about his business. For me, Iliman Ndiaye is that stand out player, though.

It would have been easy for him to have lost impetus by being moved out onto the right, a position I had real doubts as to whether he could succeed in. His performances have been very good though and the four goals he has already scored have been valuable in the positive results secured so far. He should have had many more assists too - the finishing of his teammates hurting him in that area. He has been very good and deserves real credit for his start to the season. It feels like the rest of the world is now waking up to his ability.