Burnley’s Keane hoping to get chance with England

From Manchester United, via Leicester, Derby, Blackburn and Burnley, Michael Keane’s journey to the England set up has been a long one, but the defender is determined not to let the opportunity slip through his grasp.

After a series of loans the 24-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford in 2014, but having helped his side back to the Premier League and established himself as one of the top flight’s leading defenders, Keane finds himself among esteemed company in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad.

With Gary Cahill, Chris Smalling and John Stones all fighting for a starting berth in the upcoming games against Germany and Lithuania, Keane – a former Republic of Ireland youth international – is hopeful of a first cap this week.

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“It’s the same for everyone. You come to England and the squad is filled with great players and players who are playing at the best clubs in the country,” he said.

“It will be difficult, but I’ve always thought if you train well and you are playing well for your club then you would have a good chance.

“I’ve been lucky enough to get here so far. I just need to go one step further and all I can do is keep playing well for Burnley and when I get the chance to come here, show the manager what I can do on the training pitch and hopefully that leads to my first cap.

“It would be a dream come true.”