Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
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."
Show all 23 1 /23Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Ahmed Musa Leicester City have been sniffing around the CSKA Moscow striker but United may hijack the deal, given their desperate need for pace and movement up front.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Franco Vazquez The Italian international would offer a dynamic presence in attacking midfield, having impressed during his time at Palermo.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers <b>IN: </b>Neymar (Barcelona) A long-term target of vice-chairman Ed Woodward but a fanciful one, who is said to want to move to a club where he will be the top dog. However, the Brazilian is negotiating a new deal at the Nou Camp and will use any reported interest as leverage in the contract talks.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Renato Sanches (Benfica) Only 18-years-old but highly rated by the Portuguese club. United's scouts have watched the teenage midfielder multiple times in recent weeks and talks are already said to have taken place. Could cost £30m.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) After Ashley Young's groin surgery United are facing a crisis at the back. Ryan Bertrand is said to be a target but when Luke Shaw returns will he really want to sit on the bench?
2015 Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all chasing the Bayern Munich striker, who has grown restless in Germany. His fee would be around £70m in the summer.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Eden Hazard (Chelsea) The stand-out player of 2014/15 has stunk out 2015/16 and suffered a torrid few months at Stamford Bridge. A fresh start may be in order and his movement would be very welcome in United's static frontline.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) A long-term target, no doubt, but January may be a bit too soon. The Welshman’s troubles in Spain have eased slightly this term but he still plays second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu. At Old Trafford, he would take centre stage. The question is whether Bale, and Real president Florentino Perez, would be ready to call quits on record-breaking move to the Spanish giants.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had to tell Ed Woodward to stop emailing him earlier this year, so persistent were Manchester United in their chase of Muller. The roving forward would be a perfect fit at Old Trafford but any move would be a major coup.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Edinson Cavani (PSG) United are in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements, and the Uruguayan would surely be able to aid them in their quest for goals and attacking flair. He would cost a hefty fee but always seems to be unhappy at the French club.
2015 Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht) The young Belgian midfielder, 18, is widely courted due to his versatility throughout the midfield. He would add genuine energy to United’s engine room, but would likely be one for the future with Louis van Gaal's squad currently brimming with central midfielders.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Breel Embolo (Basel) The Swiss forward is still raw but direct in his play and would help bolster United’s meagre attacking options. Still only 18, it is possible that he and Anthony Martial could form a partnership which would provide United fans with years of entertainment.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) Behind both Thiago Silva and David Luiz in the PSG pecking order, the Brazilian is frustrated with a lack of opportunites at the Parc des Princes. He's also attracted the interest of Chelsea.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan) After making his debut in goal for Milan at the tender age of 16, clubs have been keen to see whether they can tie up a deal for the goalkeeper while he is still young. If United were to secure his signing, he could act as an excellent understudy (and potential future replacement) to David de Gea. However, his agent Mino Raiola has already said he is worth £150m.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Oumar Niasse The Lokomotiv Moscow striker was voted the Russian Premier League’s player of 2015 and is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs.
GETTY IMAGES
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) A more realistic target perhaps but the Algerian playmaker would still come at a cost. He has been, alongside Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy, the Premier League’s stand-out performer this season. The question is whether he could maintain such form consistently and on a bigger stage. The Foxes meanwhile have no interest in selling.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Consistent goals at Everton have seen the Belgium international linked with a host of clubs, including Manchester United. It's claimed Everton would want £65m in order to sell.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Sadio Mane (Southampton) When United sounded out a move for the Senegalese forward at the end of the last transfer window, Southampton valued him between £35-40m. There is no suggestion that Mane’s pricetag has changed but then again, this is the United that paid a potential £58m for the relatively unproven Anthony Martial. That didn’t work out so terribly…
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Felipe Anderson (Lazio) The 22-year-old Brazilian winger is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe, despite a difficult start to the season, and has regularly been linked with a move to United. Ed Woodward may have to beat competition from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain if he is to take Anderson off Lazio’s hands.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers James Rodriguez (midfield) Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez faces an uncertain future after new head coach Zinedine Zidane left him out of the first-team named in his opening match in charge of the club. With Isco preferred in a three-man midfield, Rodriguez could decide that he needs to leave the club in order to secure first-team football.
Getty Images
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United) A lack of pace in attack has often been cited as one of the main problems for Louis van Gaal’s side. Perez would solve that, as well as providing a useful option off the bench.
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Matteo Darmian (defender) The 26-year-old Italian made a bright start to his Old Trafford career but has since gone off the boil. At times, he's struggled to get into Louis van Gaal's side, with Ashley Young preferred as a makeshift right-back. A move back to Serie A could be on the cards.
2015 Manchester United FC
Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Marcos Rojo (defender) The Argentinian has struggled with injuries since joining 18 months ago and was exiled for a short time after missing his flight for the club's pre-season tour. United could be ready to cut their losses on the £16million defender this January.
Getty Images
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."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies