PAUL Pogba might be the world’s most expensive player but Michael Keane still sees his former Manchester United teammate as a teenager leading the singing on away days.

Keane’s Clarets head to Old Trafford this afternoon hoping to register their first away points of the season.

For the 23-year-old, who has hugely impressed in the heart of the Burnley defence so far this season, it is a return to a ground he called home during his formative footballing years and a chance to pit his wits against the world’s best..

"It is the fixture that I look at first when they come out,” said Keane of his Old Trafford return.

“I've got loads of friends and family there who have season tickets so there always going to the games.

“It's definitely a special occasion for me having spent so long at the club. I still know most of the people there behind the scenes. It will be good to go back but you have to be really professional, do what you normally do, focus on the game and prepare just like I would for any other game.”

There will be plenty of reunions. Not just French star Pogba but also Jesse Lingard who Keane remains close with.

All three have moved on significantly since they formed part of United’s FA Youth Cup winning team in 2011.

Keane and Lingard were both in the last England squad while Pogba returned to these shores for £100m from Juventus in the summer.

And the Clarets lynchpin can still recall meeting the French star for the first time when the two were coming through the system together at Old Trafford.

"I remember his first day at the club,” Keane said of Pogba. “We were all training at The Cliff, sat in the dressing room, we were only young lads, about 16, and normally when you come in to a new group you're shy.

“He came in and the first thing he did was walk in to the changing room shaking everybody's hand and sat interacting and speaking.

“We played the game and you could see how good he was right away; right foot, left foot, pinging the ball. We knew from that first day he was a special player.

Lancashire Telegraph:

"He had the aura from the start. He's a confident lad but he's always been a great person to have around.

“There were little things he'd do like getting chants going on the team bus, French chants, and everyone would follow him when we were going on these tours.

“He was great to have around and I have great memories of them all.”

So can Keane believe that singing sensation is now a £100m man?

"That's the way football is going,” he added. “You could always tell that he was a talented lad and how good he was.

“When he left United we were all really surprised that they let it happen. I don't know exactly why it happened - I think it was mainly to do with game time.

“You could always see how good he was in training. Some of the stuff he used to do was unbelievable.

“He was a big, strong lad with great feet, he could score goals and he was good in the air. He's got everything.

“It's not really a surprise to see him get bought back for that amount of money. It's more of a surprise to see him back, but not for that money.”

Keane has met up with Pogba once since the 23-year-old returned to these shores in the summer.

He sees best pal Lingard far more often and admits he can’t wait to pit his wits against the both him and Pogba today.

"I saw Jesse the other night and we had a chat about the game,” said Keane.

“I'm really looking forward to it and playing against him.

“Even in the last few years when I’d left United I still see him every couple of weeks or so. “We have kept in contact, I know all his family, his brothers. He’s done really well. He’s dangerous, he can pop up with a goal, he’s quite a good finisher.

“He works hard and being a winger you’ve got to track back these days and he’ll do that all day long.

“I've seen Pogba once since he's been back. I saw him for dinner one night and it was good to see him.

“He was the same guy that he's always been, really down to earth and funny.

“His fame hasn't changed him at all which was good to see.

“It'll be good to play against him having played alongside him for a few years. I know how good they are as players but at the same time we'll be there to do a job against them.

“First and foremost I need to do really well for my football club, Burnley, and look to get a result.”

And Burnley need a result. Not because they are struggling - far from it, they head into the match in 14th place – but to get the away day hoodoo of their back.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The Clarets have yet to collect a point from three league away matches conceding nine goals in the process and were also dumped out of the EFL Cup at Accrington Stanley.

But Keane is viewing the trip to Old Trafford as the perfect chance to pick up a positive result.

“I don't think anybody will expect anything from us,” added Keane. “It's a free hit really but in our camp we know what we're capable of.

“The pressure is on United, obviously they had a good result against City, but in the Premier League they've been struggling lately.

“It's a big game for them and probably a 'must win' for them against the likes of Burnley at home.

“If we can go there and keep it tight for a bit they might get a bit edgy and we can cause them trouble.”