I’M THE RIO DEAL
Keane’s ready to follow hero
MICHAEL KEANE has revealed the secret mentor guiding him towards fulfilling his England dream.
Burnley’s brilliant young centre-half is in line for his Three Lions debut in Germany on March 22.
And nobody will be happier than Keane’s boyhood hero, Rio Ferdinand.
The Old Trafford legend, now a pundit after winning 81 England caps, has taken the 24-year-old under his wing.
Keane said: “I’ve known him since I was coming through at Man United. He stuck around and helped me out.
“I can text him or call him when I want. Before big games he’ll give me a bit of advice that will stick in my head. At first I was a bit in awe of him, but it’s something you get used to.
“It’s been a while now and I feel comfortable asking him questions and talking to him.
Strong
“He’s been brilliant with me and I’m thankful. He’s a legend, a great player I can learn a lot from.”
Everton and Chelsea target Keane was called up for Gareth Southgate’s England squad in October.
Now he hopes a strong performance at Liverpool tomorrow can propel him to his first full cap.
He added: “The next goal is to make my debut, then after that cement my place in the team. It’s not going to be easy, there’s a lot of competition, but I’ve always had belief in my own ability.”
Keane, signed for £2m from United in 2015, has been at the heart of Burnley’s successful season.
But even though they stand 12th in the table, they have taken only two points away from Turf Moor.
Keane said: “No away game in the Premier League is easy, especially places like Anfield.
“But we’ll go there in the belief we can get a result, as we do every away game. Being underdogs could be in our favour. We got a point at Old Trafford.”