SNUB BY UNITED GAVE ME A POINT TO PROVE
says England new boy MICHAEL KEANE
MICHAEL KEANE reckons being rejected three years ago by Manchester United helped turn him into an England player.
Keane is riding the crest of a wave following an impressive Three Lions debut against Germany on Wednesday night.
The defender could have been forgiven for shrinking under the pressure after being handed his first-ever start in a new-look back three against the world champions.
Gareth Southgate’s men went down 1-0 following a stunning second-half strike from German legend Lukas Podolski.
But Keane looked assured from start to finish to emerge with huge credit and provide genuine hope that he has a long international career ahead of him. Keane, 24, came through the ranks at United alongside Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard.
But while Pogba and Lingard have gone on to become established stars at Old Trafford, Keane is now plying his trade in the less glamorous surroundings of Burnley.
Keane was shown the door at United in 2014 by former boss Louis van Gaal after a humiliating 4-0 drubbing at MK Dons in the League Cup.
He went out on loan to Leicester, Derby and Blackburn before joining the Clarets on a similar deal, then making the move permanent in January 2015.
Since then he hasn’t looked back, though, and now finds himself with a golden chance to establish himself in Southgate’s plans ahead of next summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Keane said: “I always thought I would make it at United.
“A few changes in managers did not help and when I left, I felt I had a point to prove.
“It made me work that bit harder. I am thankful to Sean Dyche at Burnley for the work he has done with me and the faith he has in me.
Huge
“I feel very proud. Obviously there has been a lot of hard work to get to this stage. To be given the chance, I am proud and thankful.
“I feel as though I have earned it on the pitch, having played for Burnley, and I am over the moon.
“I will set new goals and I have managed to get to a huge one now in
terms of making my debut. There are a lot of great players ahead of me. It is not going to be easy, but I want to keep playing well for my club and see where it takes me.
“I always thought if I am playing well in the Premier League, I would have a chance.
“Hopefully there are many more caps to come. I am thankful it came in Germany and that I managed to take my chance.
“Maybe I have had a point to prove. I feel I have done well, so there is not much more I can do.” It looks like Republic of Ireland’s loss has become England’s gain, considering Keane could well have been pulling on a green shirt instead of one with Three Lions on the chest.
Keane was eligible to play for the Irish through his father and represented them at both Under-17 and Under-19 levels.
But the Stockport-born star says his dream was always to play for England and he has no regrets about spurning the Emerald Isle.
He added: “I always wanted to play for England, but when I was younger I was not at the level required. I thought it best to go and get some experience at international level with Ireland.
“My dad was born in Ireland and moved to England when he was nine. But he is over the moon.
“When I got a call saying they (England) wanted me, I did not think twice.
“I was thankful to Ireland to play for them but England was my country.
“There was never any doubt. I was always confident in my ability.”