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Marcus Rashford's Man United chance could have been mine - Will Keane

Former Manchester United striker Will Keane has told the Times that he could have been the star on the night Marcus Rashford made his name.

An injury to Keane meant Rashford was named on the bench for the Europa League game against Midtjylland in February 2016.

Rashford, then 18 years old, was thrown into the starting XI when Anthony Martial suffered an injury in the warm-up and scored twice.

His place in the squad that night would have gone to Keane, now at Hull City, were it not for a groin injury suffered against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup the week before.

And Keane said: "That night was bittersweet for me. I was happy for Marcus, but I had been waiting for another opportunity and that had been taken away by another injury.

"I often think: 'That could have been me.' If I was playing I would have backed myself to score a goal or two, and then you never know."

Keane's career has been interrupted by injuries, and he suffered knee ligament damage only weeks after moving to Hull -- then managed by former United player and assistant Mike Phelan -- late last year.

But he has targeted a return within the next few weeks, saying: "Now I am out on the pitch next to the lads, doing ball work, so I feel like a footballer again.

"I will be fit in a couple of months, all being well."

And he said he wanted to emulate the success of twin brother Michael, now at Everton, adding: "He is a perfect example for me to follow.

"If I can get back at Hull and do really well, there is no reason why I can't do the same thing."