The Lilywhites principal marksman netting 13 times prior to the end of last season now close to lining up again. Keane’s absence from the playing eleven dates back to early this season through a thigh injury which has seen him miss nine PNE games. Posts about how well the player and recovery was going were all encouraging, but one recent image which surfaced on social media confirms that he’s making a swift street at 31.

The club on X (formerly Twitter) posted a picture of Keane announcing his potential availability for a game against Derby this coming Saturday. As stupid as this may sound, fans demand to know if the ex-Ipswich and Hull man is fit enough to take a game. Preston are currently 20th in the Championship and may require the lift of Keane involvement for the winner-takes-all clash at Deepdale.
Keane scored 13 goals that season, leading North End to a tenth-place finish in the campaign but the player has been used sparingly this term only scoring four top-flight whilst he has netted just once due to injury. With Greenwood and Riis leading the Preston attack, welcoming back Keane to the fold — and Osmajic from suspension — gives Heckingbottom additional attacking options in a bid to get his side moving in the right direction after six matches without a win culminating in defeat at Portsmouth.