Former Manchester United forward Will Keane has opened up on his search for a new club as a free agent
Former Manchester United striker Will Keane is on the lookout for a new club.
Former Manchester United striker Will Keane is on the lookout for a new club.(Image: (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images))
View 4 Images
Will Keane's Manchester United career may not have hit the lofty heights he would have hoped for, though it could have taken a vastly different trajectory had it not been for injuries. The 33-year-old came through United's illustrious academy, impressing coaches at Carrington before making his senior debut in December 2011.
The Stockport-born forward came on as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, but would drop back down to United's Under 21s for the remainder of that campaign. Then, at just 19 years old, Keane suffered from a severe knee injury while representing England's Under 19s in May 2012.
The United striker ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and was sidelined for the whole of the 2012/13 season. He made his comeback for United U21s in September 2013 before heading out on a one-month loan spell to Championship outfit Wigan Athletic.
That spell at the DW Stadium was also imacted by injury, struggling with a groin problem. He would return to Old Trafford before another loan spell with QPR in the second half of the 2013/14 season at QPR.
Further temporary moves followed at Sheffield Wednesday and Preston before then United boss Louis van Gaal offered Keane another opportunity to prove himself in the senior squad.
Yet he was limited to just two additional substitute outings for the Reds, one in the Premier League at Sunderland and another in the FA Cup at Shrewsbury.
United opted to offload Keane to Hull City, who had just secured promotion to the Premier League, in August 2016 for £1million, penning a three-year deal in the process.
Will Keane struggled with injuries throughout his Manchester United tenure.
Will Keane struggled with injuries throughout his Manchester United tenure.(Image: (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images))
View 4 Images
Reflecting on his spell at United, Keane told Mirror Football: "I look back now and it was the best place to come through the ranks and have that development. I was lucky to have a strong squad as a whole.
"At the time, the feeling was that a lot of us would go and break in and get around the first team, which a few did and stayed there for a long time. I loved it.
"I think the whole education, enjoying going in every day. It was a great place to learn our trade and to make that transition from academy to reserves. And then I think the coaches we had at the time were all brilliant.
"I see now even a lot of lads are going on to have great careers. I think you've seen it at United, haven't you, over the years? It's been like a conveyor belt. The aim is to always play, but if you don't, lads are still on to have great careers. It was the perfect place to be."
Despite not featuring as regularly as he would have liked during his time at United, Keane learned a lot, getting valueable experience from some of the finest coaches and players in world football.
However, Keane firmly believes he would have been afforded far greater opportunities had he not suffered the ACL injury that ultimately ruled him out for nearly 16 months.
When asked why things didn't materialise at United, Keane added: "It's all ifs, buts and maybes, so there's no saying that I would have stayed there and played a lot more. But I think in football, a lot of it is timing, isn't it? I was quite unfortunate that I did have a bad knee injury at the time, which I'd just made my debut, and then it was the last game of the season.
"I did my ACL and then I ended up being out for 15 or 16 months, so it was a long time when it was probably a key part of the transition and getting around the squad.
"So obviously that hindered my progression then, and even then when I got back, it took time to get myself going, so that didn't help. And then I did it again, even when I left United and I went to Hull in the Premier League, played a few games and ended up redoing it. So then that was another year out.
"At the time it was shocking timing and it kind of killed me, but that is the way it goes. I've still managed to carve out a career. Obviously you never know, if I'd not had them, would I have stayed higher up? Potentially, but who knows?"
Will Keane joined Hull City after leaving Manchester United in 2016.
Will Keane joined Hull City after leaving Manchester United in 2016.(Image: (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images))
View 4 Images
Shortly after departing United to join Hull, Keane ruptured his ACL for a second time. It occurred during just his sixth outing for the Tigers in a 2-1 victory over Southampton in November 2016.
Keane was sidelined for 14 months before making his comeback in January 2018 following Hull's drop to the Championship. He subsequently netted his maiden goal for the Tigers during a 5-0 triumph at Burton in April 2018.
Detailing the struggles he had while recovering from both ACL injuries, Keane revealed that it took a toll on him both physically and mentally. "Yeah, at the time it was a real challenge," he continued.
"I think the first one I didn't really know because I'd never had a bad injury like that before, I kind of just got on with it. It was obviously really tough to take, but I didn't know how long the actual rehab process was going to take.
"As it carried on, I thought this is never ending. And it was tough because I remember at the time I was thinking, even when I got back outside, I was really struggling to get going and thought, how am I going to be able to play again here to a certain level? It just takes time and a bit of reprogramming your body and your brain almost to do all the things you used to do, but you get there eventually.
"The second one was tough because it was almost like a second chance at playing at that top level in the Prem (Premier League). So that one was really hard, especially because I knew how long it was out because I'd been through it once before.
"That season we got relegated at Hull, so then I've come back and we're not obviously in the same situation. That was hard to take because I felt like I'd had some setbacks at United, but then going to Hull was a fresh chance, a clean slate, and then to have that, it'd be such a major injury again, ruining the chance of getting more games in the Prem was really hard.
"Like I said, I've always tried to be optimistic and look to the positives, which is not easy at times. Still managed to grind it out and play at a good level and been at some great clubs."
Keane has since gone on to forge a successful career in the EFL. Following his departure from Hull in 2019, he joined Ipswich Town before moving on to Wigan Athletic, where he enjoyed his most productive season in 2021/22.
Keane netted 27 times in 50 appearances as the Latics clinched the League One title. The subsequent season, he reached double figures for Wigan in the Championship, earning himself a transfer to Preston North End.
He finished as Preston's leading scorer in the 2023/24 campaign with 13 goals and was rewarded with a contract extension until June 2026. However, Keane struggled to recapture that same form during his second season at Deepdale.
After finding himself on the fringes under Paul Heckingbottom at the start of the 2025/26 season, Keane headed out on loan to League One outfit Reading for the second half of the campaign.
He managed just two goals in 14 appearances for The Royals before becoming a free agent earlier this summer, following the expiry of his deal at Preston.
Will Keane spent last season on loan with Reading in League One.
Will Keane spent last season on loan with Reading in League One.(Image: (Photo by John Cripps/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
View 4 Images
Now 33, Keane remains without a club and has spent the past five weeks at PFA pre-season, a summer scheme which enables out-of-contract players to train and build up their fitness with the aim of securing their next move. "I feel really good," Keane said, when asked about his future during his time on the PFA pre-season camp.
"It was disappointing not to have played more games at the end of last season, but I feel like this is a clean slate and I'm still raring to go. I feel like I've still got a lot to offer.
"I wanted to rediscover the form that I had a couple of years ago. I was playing consistently and scoring plenty of goals. I feel like I've still got that in me. I'm really itching to do that again.
"I had a few injuries early on in my career, but a few people in the game said to me, the coach and what not, that hopefully towards the end of my career I'll get them back.
"I'm not exactly a player who's always relied on pure pace, which I know sometimes as you get older you might lose that yard. But as long as you still keep sharp in the mind and keep getting in the right areas, hopefully I can still contribute and score goals. So that's the aim and hopefully I'll still have a successful couple of years."