Roy Keane couldn’t hide his admiration after Everton star Hayden Hackney delivered a stunning masterclass against Crystal Palace

Roy Keane couldn’t hide his admiration after Everton star Hayden Hackney delivered a stunning masterclass against Crystal Palace.The former Middlesbrough engine room operator completed his move to Goodison Park earlier this summer, and if his performance in Everton’s 2-0 victory over Palace is any indication, he is already proving to be one of the buys of the transfer window.Operating in a central midfield pivot, Hackney ran the engine room with the authority of a seasoned Premier League veteran. He dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, effortlessly breaking up Crystal Palace’s counter-attacks while carving open their defensive lines with progressive, incisive passing.Speaking in the post-match studio, Keane was purring over the 24-year-old’s discipline and tenacity—traits the Irishman notoriously values above all else.> “We talk a lot about expensive transfers, but getting Hayden Hackney in that midfield is easily one of the best signings of the entire summer,” Keane noted. “He didn’t just play well; he ran the match. He takes responsibility, demands the ball, tracks back, and does the dirty work. That’s a proper midfield masterclass.”> Hackney’s seamless transition into the Premier League has provided Everton with the exact press-resistant composure and bite they lacked last season. Playing alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Hackney gave the Toffees full territorial control, restricting Crystal Palace to virtually nothing in central areas.It was a performance that combined technical quality with relentless effort. For Everton supporters, hearing Roy Keane single out their new midfielder as the signing of the summer only confirms what was obvious on the pitch: Hayden Hackney has arrived at the top level, and he looks right at home.