Michael Keane says he is “taking a lot” from playing alongside Everton captain and “great presence and leader” Phil Jagielka.
The England international duo were reunited in the middle of the Toffees' defence for the recent matches with Brighton & Hove Albion and Stoke City and helped their side secure successive victories heading into the current international break.
Centre-back Keane joined from Burnley last summer and has impressed in recent weeks, helping the Blues move to within three points of his former club in seventh place.
Keane and Jagielka’s embryonic relationship was disrupted by niggling injury problems suffered by both players after they had kicked off the campaign by shutting out Stoke on the opening day.