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Man United recall striker Will Keane from loan spell at Preston North End

Manchester United striker Will Keane has returned to Old Trafford from his loan spell at Championship club Preston North End.

Keane, 22, has made just one substitute appearance for United in the Premier League, and only scored once in 20 league matches for Preston.

United have been short of strikers after selling Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez in the summer and then allowing James Wilson to join Brighton on loan.

And as Louis van Gaal's team have only scored two goals in their last five league games, Keane could give them another option in attack.

"[It happened] in the last 24 hours or so. United felt they needed an extra body around them," Preston boss Simon Grayson told Sky Sports.

"Obviously it's disappointing to lose Will. In the last few weeks he's been finding his feet with us. But that is what happens when you get loan players.

"We accept it. We will probably go into the market over the next few days and weeks to bring in reinforcements. Hopefully he will do well for Manchester United."

Keane's lone league game for United came in 2011 and, asked if he could be the scorer they need, Grayson replied: "It's a big step up. But he's played regularly for us, he's fit, so time will tell."

The former England under-21 international has also had loan spells at Wigan, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday, all in the Championship.