Mydadnevergivesme earache..old rival Jaap is real sounding board
The 21-year-old finalised his loan move to Firhill for the remainder of the campaign during the week, and his manager Alan Archibald hinted he is ready to give him his debut at Inverness today.
When he does get his chance in a Thistle jersey, Keown hopes to show that he has many of the qualities that made his father such a revered – and feared – defender in his day.
Keown said: “People always ask me: ‘What’s it like? Is he in your ear all the time?’ To be honest, he takes a bit of a back seat. He lets me work things out for myself.
“I wasn’t tempted to play in another position, I didn’t get much choice! He retired when I was eight or nine, which is a shame, really. I would have loved to have watched more of those games now, to see what he was really like.
“I was in that environment from a very young age, mixing with his team-mates. We used to go to all the games.
“Arsenal were still at Highbury and we used to go up on a Saturday, me and my brother and my mum, and enjoy watching the games.
“I think growing up in a football environment meant I was always going to go into the game.
“But what I really got from it was the mindset and the mentality. I really got that from my dad, from being in the same house as him for all those years.
“That kind of thing is always forced upon youu eventually, I suppose. But I was already focused on being a professional footballer from a very young age .
“I’d like to think I’m tough to get past, quitee aggressive. Hopeefully I show that.” .”
Unlike mostt young pros- - pects, Keown didn’t have to look out outside of his own ho house for inspirat spirational role model models. But as if having his dad on hand for ad advice wasn’t e enough, his manager at parent club Reading is the legendary former Manch chester United legend Jaap Stam.“He’s been good,” Keown said. “I got a few injuries over the summer so I didn’t get as much of a chance to work with him as I would have liked.
“But a lot of his tips about defending have been very helpful. He bases his game on possession, which is useful. Hopefully the advice he’s given me will stay with me for a long time.”
Now Keown will look to learn from another decent defender in his day in Thistle boss Alan Archibald
“I’m very happy to get it done after having been with the lads for a couple of weeks,” he said. “I was away with them for the training camp and it was a big help getting to know everybody, although I already knew Ryan Edwards.
“He had been at Reading for a few years, so I played with him there. That helped because we had quite a tough week, a lot of training sessions. If anything, it accelerated the rate at which I got to know the players.
“Doing morning sessions, afternoon sessions, being with them all 24/7, it definitely makes it easier.
“Ryan did encourage me to come here. But it was an easy decision for me, regardless. I spoke to the manager on the phone and, after spending the week in Spain with the boys, it was a no-brainer for me.
“Personally, it’s a good opportunity for me to get some first-team football. But I have to put my personal goals aside, because the main aim is for the team to finish in the top six. That’s the main focus.”