Michael Keane has earned plenty of praise so far this season, having starred for Burnley and earning a well-deserved England call-up. Making his debut against Germany, Keane became the first Burnley player to compete for England in 43 years and the 33rd England international to be produced by Manchester United's youth academy.

Born in Stockport and Red through and through, Keane joined United with his twin brother, Will, when he was just 11 years old. He spent over a decade at the club, with several periods out on loan, before getting a permanent move away from his boyhood club halfway through the 2014-15 season.

Having made his Premier League debut against Sunderland for United, he completed a loan move to Burnley a week later, which would later become a £3 million permanent transfer.

Now in his third season at Turf Moor after having endured some time in the Championship, Keane is just the sort of player United would like to buy this summer. With Phil Jones and Chris Smalling constantly getting injured, or injuring their teammates, or getting sent off, or giving away penalties, or scoring own goals, United could really do with someone exhibiting Keane's composure.

Having brought back academy graduate Paul Pogba for a world-record transfer fee, United clearly won't be put off by the embarrassment of paying a fortune for a player that used to be on their books.

It does, however, raise the question of whether Louis van Gaal made a mistake in allowing Keane to leave in the first place.

The player has revealed that he believes that had Sir Alex Ferguson stayed at the club, he would never have been sold. Maybe the same is also true of players such as Danny Welbeck and Jonny Evans.

Jones and Smalling, as well as Evans and Marcos Rojo, were above the youngster in the pecking order. His second season at Burnley is when Keane's moment should have come at United, with Van Gaal forced into playing Daley Blind in the centre of defence. That's not a criticism of the Dutchman, but he clearly is not a centre-half.

Still, when Keane first joined Burnley as a 21-year-old, it was unlikely he would have been ready to play week in week out for United. He certainly has benefitted from having regular football at Burnley. and it's hard to claim he would be at the same level he is now had he spent the past few years getting games in the cup competitions and the odd league game.

If United are in the market to bring Keane back, with Chelsea and Liverpool also reportedly interested, they will have competition on their hands. But will the defender's feelings for United make Jose Mourinho favourite to agree a deal?

"I'm a United fan and I always will be," Keane said at the beginning of this season, while also revealing Jesse Lingard is still his best mate and he's in regular contact with Pogba.

Keane's dad has had a season ticket at Old Trafford for over 40 years, meaning Michael and brother Will have fought over spare tickets to watch United play since they were children. "It was always United," he said.

It's hard to imagine that he would be able to turn down a return to the club if Mourinho came knocking. Will was forced to give up the dream last summer, when he signed permanently for Hull after a string of bad injuries seriously derailed his career. But it could still be alive for Michael.

"I always thought I would make it at United," Michael Keane said this week. "When I left, I felt I had a point to prove, and it made me work that bit harder. I feel maybe I have proved a point. I feel I have done well, personally, so there is not much more I can do."

United's academy has always been so important to the club, with a former graduate making the squad for every game for what will be 80 years in October. The methods of playing Pogba, and possibly Keane, are unconventional but would be very much welcomed by the fans.

Keane has thrived since he has been away from the club, but maybe now it is time for him to come back home.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by SCOTT PATTERSON

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