Will Keane could be drafted into Manchester United first-team picture

Manchester United are planning to bring Will Keane into the first-team squad following his recall from a loan spell at Preston.United cut short Keane's season-long loan at Deepdale last week.The 22-year-old striker scored two goals in 22 matches for the Championship club, but United manager Louis van Gaal has a shortage of strikers in his squad.Keane returned to action for United in their Under-21 win over Tottenham on Monday, but could soon be playing first-team football for the club."I think that's the idea of him coming back from Preston, that hopefully he'll be involved with the first team more than the Under-21s," United youth coach Tommy Martin said when asked if Keane would be now be pushing for a place in the first-team squad.After being named United's young player of the year in 2010, Keane made his first-team debut against Blackburn the following season, but has not played for the club since.The United academy graduate missed the 2012-13 season with a knee-ligament injury and was loaned to Wigan, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday after his rehabilitation.Another player with his eye on a regular first-team place is Andreas Pereira, who scored twice in the 3-1 win over Spurs at Leigh Sports Village on Monday.The 20-year-old Brazilian scored against Ipswich on his debut in the Capital One Cup in September, but has only played five more matches since.The midfielder requested to play for the Under-21s on Monday to earn some game time, Martin revealed."Yes, he is asking to play," he said."He's a young player, he's part of the first-team squad but not always getting the minutes so it's vital that he does play for the Under-21s when he gets the opportunity."He needs to play as well as much as possible so that was good for him to play against Tottenham and it's a bonus to get the goals."Nick Powell, who has played the last three Under-21 games, was left out of the squad on Monday.The midfielder is expected to leave United on loan this month, but missed the game at Leigh through injury.Martin said: "He's got a calf strain at the moment."

Source: PA