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Louis van Gaal has taken young striker Will Keane back from his loan spell as he tries to find a solution to Manchester United’s goal drought.

Keane signed a season-long loan deal with Championship side Preston but asked Van Gaal if he could return to United to prove himself in the Premier League.

Van Gaal met Keane on Tuesday and, after listening to the 22-year-old plead his case, agreed to bring him back into the United fold with immediate effect.

United boss Van Gaal ditched strikers Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Javier Hernandez in the summer, as well as allowing James Wilson to go on loan to Brighton.

That decision backfired, with United having scored just 10 goals in their last 14 games, with Van Gaal having no alternatives to strikers Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.

(Image: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

READ MORE: Louis van Gaal still aiming for the title

Although Keane has scored just twice in 22 appearances for Preston, Van Gaal decided it was right to allow the former England Under-21 star to return to Old Trafford.

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Keane was named United’s Young Player of the Year in 2010, following in the footsteps of legends including Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, and looked to have a bright future.

But he made a solitary United appearance before loan spells at Wigan, Queen’s Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston, before being handed his chance to shine at Old Trafford again.