Preston striker Will Keane will come up against former Manchester United team-mate Marcus Rashford when they face Aston Villa in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday
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Updated 12:19, 29 Mar 2025
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Preston's Will Keane is gearing up for a head-to-head with his old Manchester United pal Marcus Rashford in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Aston Villa.
Keane, who found the net in Preston's impressive 3-0 win over Burnley to secure their spot in the last eight for the first time since the 1960s, will be facing a revitalised Rashford, who has been on fire since his loan move to Villa in February.
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The pair's careers took different turns after an injury to Keane inadvertently paved the way for Rashford's explosive debut for United at just 18 years old in 2016. Keane departed Old Trafford later that year.
Reflecting on their diverging paths, Keane said: "That's just the nature of the game," acknowledging the role of timing and seizing opportunities in football.
He added: "The way it fell into place for Marcus at that time, he took his opportunity when it came. I'm sure it was only a matter of time when that was going to come for him, maybe it came a bit sooner than he expected, but he definitely made the most of it when he burst onto the scene."
Keane, who had to consider his future after recovering from injury, shared: "When I got back fit I knew it was probably time to move on. When you grow up coming through the academy and being a United fan you always want to keep hold of that dream of making it there, which I think before a couple of long-term injuries definitely I could see the potential."
Despite not making it at United, Keane remains positive about his journey, saying: "It didn't quite pan out but I've had still a lot of good clubs and a long career after that."
Former Manchester United player Will Keane has expressed his delight at seeing Marcus Rashford enjoying his football again, stating: "I've not seen Marcus for a couple of years. I think, especially the last couple of months, seeing him back with a smile upon his face has been great. It looks like he's enjoying football."
He added a friendly jest about their upcoming encounter: "Hopefully he can have an off day on Sunday if he's playing but it will be great to see him."
Having traversed through various clubs in the Championship and League One, the 32 year old Keane rejoined Preston in the summer of 2023, reflecting warmly on his journey with the club: "It's definitely up there. The manager made it clear when he came in that a good cup run can bring everyone together and help drive the season and it's definitely done that."
He continued, discussing how the journey has galvanised the team and fans alike: "It's helped get a bit of momentum going – especially with every tie being at home, it's been good to go through that journey with the fans. Hopefully we can go one step further."
Keane acknowledges the tough challenge Preston faces against an on-form Aston Villa this weekend, despite the enticement of reaching Wembley. Positioned at 14th in the Championship table as they entered the weekend, Keane remains undaunted: "It's definitely a great challenge for all of us," he mentioned.
The forward relishes the competitive prospect, explaining: "We're the only Championship team left in the competition and that's something we all aspire to be, Premier League players."
He concluded by reinforcing the significance of the match against Villa's premier talent: "We're going to be coming up against great quality whoever (Villa) play. It's going to be a great test for us and one we need to embrace."