Nev: It’s DNA test for Niall
If Partick Thistle’s new signing Niall Keown is half as good as his dad then Alan Archibald will have some defender on his hands.
That’s the verdict of Pat Nevin, who spent three years playing with Martin Keown at Everton and rates the former England star as one of the best in the business.
Keown’s 21-year- old son Niall has joined the Jags on loan from Reading until the end of the season, eager to make a name for himself.
Young Keown has only played twice for Reading and if that inexperience is a r isk for Fi rhi l l boss Archibald then Nevin insists Niall will have the same desire to win that is in his dad’s DNA.
The former Scotland star said: “Martin was one of the most clever defenders I knew. He read situations amazingly and was not interested in silky football. He just wanted to defend.
“He was a specialist in man-marking – no one came close to him in that role.
“He could be vicious but no one wanted to win more than him.
“Martin came to Everton a year after I did, in 1989.
“At Goodison it was tough because a club legend Kevin Ratcliffe was one of the centre- halves in his first season but Martin must have done something right because George Graham brought him back to Arsenal for one of their best eras.”
Niall has been capped by the Republic of Ireland but has found it tough to make the breakthrough i n Reading’s first team.
Nevin said: “At 21, Niall is probably on his last chance if he wants to make it at the top level. But if he can do well with Partick, that might be the right step.
“The Scottish Premiership is a good place to learn.
“I am a big fan of the loan system for young players – it gets them experience of playing in a first team in front of fans and they have to step up to those demands.”