Reds appear Keane to give Will a chance

MANCHESTER United are planning to bring Will Keane into the first–team squad following his recall from a loan at Preston.

United cut short Keane’s season–long loan at Deepdale last week. The 22–year–old striker scored two goals in 22 matches for the Championship club, but United manager Louis van Gaal has a shortage of strikers.

Keane returned to action for United in their under–21 win over Tottenham on Monday, but could soon be playing first–team football for the club.

“I think that’s the idea of him coming back from Preston, that hopefully he’ll be involved with the first team more than the under–21s,” United youth coach Tommy Martin said when asked if Keane would be now be pushing for a senior place.

After being named United’s young player of the year in 2010, Keane made his first–team debut against Blackburn the following season, but has not played for the club since. He missed the 2012–13 season with a knee–ligament injury and was loaned to Wigan, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday after recovery.

Another player with his eye on a potential first–team place could be Chadderton-based Ben Pearson, who also played in the win over Spurs at Leigh Sports Village a day after returning from a loan to Barnsley.

The former Boundary Park Juniors player has also been linked with a possible transfer to Bournemouth.