Sunday 11 January 2015 14:07, UK
Michael Keane insists he has no regrets about leaving Manchester United for Burnley and is confident he can help the Clarets avoid relegation.
The 21-year-old has signed for Sean Dyche’s team on a permanent basis, after several months on loan, and performed exceptionally in the 2-1 win over QPR on Saturday, in his first match since finalising his move.
The central defender, who is an England U21 international, admits it was a wrench to leave the club he joined as a nine-year-old but the chance to play regular Premier League football was one he could not ignore.
"It was a big decision,” Keane said. “I spoke to my family about it for ages because I had been there for nearly 12 years now.
“But I felt it was the right time, especially as I am playing regularly and I wouldn't get that at United at the minute. They didn't force me out, but they said if everyone is fit there I wouldn't be starting games.
“I thought I am playing games here and at my age I have a chance to play regularly in the Premier League and that's all I ever wanted, so it was quite an easy decision in the end.
"Now we want to stay in this league and we believe with the performances we have been putting in recently we can do.
"It was a huge game for us and we knew we had to win, especially at home against the teams that are around us."
Burnley climbed above QPR and out of the relegation zone following their win, which they earned with goals from Scott Arfield and Danny Ings either side of a Charlie Austin penalty.
The result meant QPR equalled a record that has stood for 50 years - not since Sunderland in 1965 has a top-flight team lost their first 10 away games of the season.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp admitted he was hugely disappointed afterwards and he is under no illusions about how difficult it will be to keep his team in the Premier League.
"No one is more disappointed than me but it's hard to win away,” Redknapp said.
"Seven or eight of that team were playing last year in the Championship and finished miles behind Burnley and 20 points behind Leicester, so we can't get carried away about who we are.
“We are scrapping away with the other clubs down there."
