By J Bateman
February 13 2003

Preston midfielder Michael Keane has returned to action for the Deepdale side way ahead of schedule. Michael Keane has boosted Craig Brown's Preston by starring in a freindly game win over Carlisle way ahead of club doctor's plans.

Keane has been out of action for four months with a broken foot and expressed his satifaction about getting throught the game without any hiccups.

Keane speaking to the Lancashire Evening Post said "I feel great and I hope I'm back in the manager's thinking now."

Boss Craig Brown said about the return of Keane "I was delighted with Michael. He played the full 90 minutes and didn't look like he had been out for months."

"He has come back six weeks in advance of his expected return and a lot of that is down to the great work being done by our physio Andrew Balderston." Brown added