Michael Keane believes the arrival of James Tarkowski has boosted Everton's squad by intensifying the battle for first team places.
The centre-back is the Blues' only signing of the summer so far but has had an immediate impact, his teammate said. He joins what was already a competitive fight to start in the club's backline - even with Jarrad Branthwaite's departure to PSV Eindhoven on loan.
Tarkowski joins fellow centre backs Keane, Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey and youngster Reece Welch in Everton's first team squad. Seamus Coleman, currently injured, also operated in that position late last year. Speaking after the win at Blackpool, Keane said: "The competition for places brings out the best of the lads in training every day."
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Lampard has alternated between playing three centre backs and two centre backs in the pre-season fixtures so far and all six available options have seen plenty of minutes. Tarkowski, who signed on a free after his contract with relegated Burnley expired, is likely to feature heavily for Lampard's Blues but the places alongside him are up for grabs.
Keane, who played alongside Tarkowski at Burnley, said: "He's a great player, I've played with him in the past and I think playing alongside top class players brings out the best in you. The competition for places brings out the best of the lads in training every day. I think there should be good competition for every spot in the team, I don't think anybody should be comfortable in their place, so having a quality signing come in like Tarky is only good for the squad... It's great to have him here, he is a familiar face to me and a good lad as well as a good player - everybody is happy to have him here."
Keane, who played in the second half at Blackpool after starting against Minnesota United in midweek, praised the squad for the performance at Bloomfield Road, the 4-2 win offering a number of positives.
The 29-year-old said: "I think we can see the lads getting fitter, getting sharper, the shape was better, they were more solid, there were less mistakes and they were better on the ball so it was a much better day and we needed that."
The win - and the performance - was a welcome response to the defeat in Minnesota. Lampard followed that result with comments calling on the side to do better. Keane said he believed Everton had responded accordingly on Sunday: "He [Lampard] was critical of the team in the changing room after and what was said stays between us. But we know that wasn't good enough and we knew we wanted to bounce back and bring a bit of positive energy back to the team and we did that. I think we started the game positively, brightly and controlled most of the game the way we wanted to and it was much better and the response we needed.
Asked what the priorities were ahead of the new Premier League season, Keane added: "Number one to get fitter. I don't think we are there yet. We are getting there slowly but I think it is a gradual process and these games are helping. We have got two weeks until the first game so we need to ramp it up and make sure we are in top condition for that Chelsea game. Tactically we still have things to work on, we have seen that in all the games, even Blackpool, there are things we need to improve so there is lot to do on the training ground."
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