Premier League: Keane relishing Old Trafford return and battle with Zlatan

Burnley defender Michael Keane returns to Old Trafford this weekend for the first time since he left last summer, but he has no regrets over his departure from the club. 

“It’s a game that I’m really looking forward too, it’s the one that I looked for first when the fixtures came out,” said Keane to Yahoo Sport. “I have history there and lots of friends and family from Manchester, so it’s a massive game for me.”

Manchester United's current defensive problems mean that Jose Mourinho would certainly be able to utilise a player of his quality, although he still harnesses respect for Louis van Gaal for giving him his first team opportunity.  

“It is a special feeling, it’s what I wanted to do since I got there. It was my dream as a young boy and to be a Manchester United fan, to make your debut it’s a bit special and something I will never forget.”

Keane and his twin brother Will, grew up in Stockport, but both realised they would need to leave United for regular football. As children, the centre-back and the Hull City forward both worshipped a former striking double act for the Red Devils. 

“Before I joined United, I looked up to Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. I had Cole on my shirt and my brother Will had Yorke on his.”

Burnley managed to keep a clean sheet against free-scoring Liverpool in August but Keane knows that denying Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be a completely different proposition.

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“Zlatan is a great player, he’s a big strong lad and very physical, so I must try and match him for his physicality,” said Keane. 

“Stop giving him time and space to shoot because you can see how good he is with the ball at his feet. It will be a tough game but hopefully we can keep them quiet.”

Injury to Eric Bailly against Chelsea means that Daley Blind has been moved back into the centre of defence, with Luke Shaw restored to United’s line-up.

“He's an absolutely class left-back,” admits Shaw’s former teammate Jason McCarthy to Yahoo Sport. The two defenders spent their formative years together at Southampton, whilst McCarthy is currently on-loan at Walsall.

“He's good going both ways and he's just one of them players that is naturally so gifted. Ever since the youngest ages he has been one of the best players in our year group. I'm not surprised he moved to Manchester United and I hope it goes well for him.”