Manchester United: Louis van Gaal confirms Will Keane will make first-team squad for Sunderland clash

Louis van Gaal has confirmed Will Keane will be named in his squad for Manchester United's trip to Sunderland on Saturday 13 February.

Keane, 23, plundered five goals in Monday's 7-0 thrashing of Norwich City on Monday for the club's Under-21 ranks, taking his tally to 10 goals in six games for the second string since returning to the club after his loan spell at Preston North End was cancelled. The former England Under-21 international also started in Thursday's Under-21 clash with Manchester City, providing the assist for Joe Rothwell's winner in another impressive performance.

Van Gaal was in attendance on Monday and is now ready to reward the striker with, at the very least, a role on the bench at the Stadium of Light. "He's always training with us, with the first selection, and he's scoring a lot of goals now. He is also in the squad tomorrow and I hope that he shall continue with scoring goals because that is very important for a striker," van Gaal told United's official website.

Keane was part of the United's 2011 FA Youth Cup-winning side that featured Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and current first-teamer Jesse Lingard, going onto make his first-team debut later that year against Blackburn Rovers.

But a serious knee injury suffered in the 2011/12 campaign severely hampered his progress and sidelined him for more than a year. The striker made the bench for United's FA Cup third round win over Sheffield United in January but has not featured for the first-team since his debut over four years ago.

Keane was also an addition to United's Europa League squad, along with 17-year-old Regan Poole. Both could feature in United's European campaign, which resumes against Danish club Middtjylland, with the first leg taking place away from home on Thursday 18 February.