Post by 20Times on Jun 7, 2010 16:55:33 GMT
Keane eyes first-team chance
Will Keane could barely have had a better 2009/10, but that’s not stopped him dreaming of even more success next term.
The 17-year-old striker picked up the much-coveted Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award after helping both United’s Academy and Reserves sides win their respective leagues. He also won the pre-season Milk Cup tournament with the Under-18s and tasted success in the Reserve league play-off final before capping an incredible season by lifting the UEFA Under-17s European Championship trophy with England.
Fresh from that latest victory, Keane told the Manchester Evening News of his delight at how his first season as a professional footballer panned out.
“It couldn’t have gone much better,” he says. “Sir Alex came over to say well done at the Player of the Year awards, which was nice. We see quite a lot of him around the training ground and he always stops to say hello and ask how we are doing. It’s one of the reasons United is such a great to club to learn at.”
Keane certainly couldn’t ask for many better striking mentors than Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and former Red Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It can only help being around them and watching what they do,” he admits.
His 15 goals in 35 appearances last season suggests he’s already taken plenty on board. And the Stockport-born forward now has his sights set on breaking into the first-team.
“I’m hoping to progress next year and get a regular place in the Reserves and maybe even get a call into the first-team squad.”
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I've seen quite a lot of him at academy and reserve level last season, top scorer for the academy. He's cool as ice in front of goal and he has amazing reactions, like his back-heeled goal against city reserves.
Will Keane could barely have had a better 2009/10, but that’s not stopped him dreaming of even more success next term.
The 17-year-old striker picked up the much-coveted Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award after helping both United’s Academy and Reserves sides win their respective leagues. He also won the pre-season Milk Cup tournament with the Under-18s and tasted success in the Reserve league play-off final before capping an incredible season by lifting the UEFA Under-17s European Championship trophy with England.
Fresh from that latest victory, Keane told the Manchester Evening News of his delight at how his first season as a professional footballer panned out.
“It couldn’t have gone much better,” he says. “Sir Alex came over to say well done at the Player of the Year awards, which was nice. We see quite a lot of him around the training ground and he always stops to say hello and ask how we are doing. It’s one of the reasons United is such a great to club to learn at.”
Keane certainly couldn’t ask for many better striking mentors than Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and former Red Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It can only help being around them and watching what they do,” he admits.
His 15 goals in 35 appearances last season suggests he’s already taken plenty on board. And the Stockport-born forward now has his sights set on breaking into the first-team.
“I’m hoping to progress next year and get a regular place in the Reserves and maybe even get a call into the first-team squad.”
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I've seen quite a lot of him at academy and reserve level last season, top scorer for the academy. He's cool as ice in front of goal and he has amazing reactions, like his back-heeled goal against city reserves.