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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Some Premier League players may have used the international break as a chance to gain some early-season rest, but for two players it provided a great opportunity for them to test each other out.
On the chalkboard
Callum Wilson and Michael Keane were both part of the England squad for the recent European Championship qualifiers, and the two will come face-to-face on Sunday as Everton visit the Vitality Stadium.
England training, therefore, would have been the perfect setting for them to come up against each other, and both players should be better prepared for the clash as a result.
Keane, in particular, will be looking to bounce back from his disappointing display against Kosovo, in which he gave the ball away 11 times, including a stray pass which allowed the visitors to score the opening goal.
That aside, his two clean sheets from four league games mean he has arguably had a better start to the season than Wilson, who has one goal in the same period, but he could use the events of Tuesday’s international encounter to exploit a possible weakness in the 26-year-old’s game.
A test of speed?
Keane’s average of 5.8 aerial duels won per game in both 2018/19 and so far in 2019/20 suggests he is a defender best suited to a physical, aerial contest, and therefore the upcoming battle with Wilson is likely to be a challenging one, as his success will depend on keeping the striker quiet when the ball is on the floor.
Wilson is yet to get firing this season both in terms of goals and taking on defenders, but his average of 2.3 key passes per game underlines the threat he has posed in the final third, and his link-up with Joshua King could prove vital.
The Everton defender will need to be on top of his game, and avoid the lapse in concentration which led him to give the ball away poorly against Kosovo, as Wilson will be well aware of that particular shortcoming and look to pounce at every opportunity.
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The pace of the Cherries man could, therefore, pose a danger on or off the ball, and Eddie Howe may decide to operate a high press in order to force a mistake from Keane.
Despite that, the centre-back has achieved a good amount of interceptions and clearances this season, and if he keeps a close eye on Wilson he may have just enough to keep him quiet.
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