Michael Keen To Face Leicester

Defender eager to come up against old club in Friday's clash at the King Power Stadium.

Central defender Michael Keane says he is desperate to play and come out on top in Friday night’s reunion with former loan club Leicester City (7:45pm kick-off).

Derby County take on the Championship League leaders at the King Power Stadium this week, in what will be Keane’s first return to the club he left last season, following a successful loan spell.

The England Under-21 international made 27 appearances for the Foxes through the 2012/13 campaign and was shortlisted for their Player of the Year award, and Keane admits he is looking forward to facing his old team-mates on Friday evening.

He told Rams Player: “They are a great side [Leicester], who are doing really well at the minute and on a personal note I am really looking forward to the game.

“I had great time there and made a lot of good friends, so I am looking forward to playing against them.

“I know what the players are like and it could be [an advantage]. I know their strikers, having played against them every day in training. But they are great players and anything can happen on the day, so we will have to be at our best to keep them away from our goal.

“It was a very successful loan; I played a lot of games and made a lot of good friends. I think the fans liked me and we played good football.

“We got to the Play-Off Semi-Finals and were unlucky not to go through in the end. That is going to be the one regret I have of being there, but that is football for you, anything can happen.

“I was on the wrong end of it last year but hopefully Derby can be on the right end of it this year and get that little bit of luck you need.”

The Rams suffered their first defeat in the League in 10 matches against Wigan Athletic on New Year’s Day, and Keane says it is imperative the side bounce back from the loss by returning to winning ways against the Foxes.

He added: “In terms of the League - especially off of the back of a defeat against Wigan – it is important to get a win as quickly as possible, so you don’t lose any momentum.

“We don’t want to lose that winning habit, so we will be looking to bounce back against Leicester and play like we always do; playing good football, scoring a few goals and recording a clean sheet.

“Sometimes after a defeat it can work better for you playing against the best team in the division; it gets everyone motivated and you work that little bit harder.

“So the fixture could work in our favour, and everyone is confident going into the game.”

Watch Michael Keane’s full pre-match interview on Rams Player.