Michael Keane: 'The Championship was the making of me'

Burnley and ex-Manchester United defender Michael Keane insists playing a full season in the Championship was the best decision he could have made.

Since leaving The Red Devils in January of 2015, Keane's stock value has been on a steady rise.

The Manchester native has been called up to represent England on two separate occasions, and he was recently linked with a few of the English giants, including Chelsea.

"When you see people say nice things about you, links with other clubs even, it is flattering but it only happens if you're doing well on the pitch,'' Keane said in a press conference earlier this week, as reported by ESPN FC.

"It gives you that confidence but you can't get carried away. I've just got to keep working hard, keep doing the same things and hopefully it carries on."

Instead of crediting his recent spike in form with getting more playing time in the Premier League - the most prolific attribution - the 23-year-old had quite the opposite opinion.

"Last year in the Championship was the making of me. I played a full season, 46 games, and it was the first full season I've played in my career," Keane said.

"To play in that league can be difficult so to come through that as champions gives me confidence."

Confidence can work wonders for any athlete in any sport, and this seems to be the case for Keane, who said he is simply really enjoying his job.

"Then coming into the Premier League, starting off well and getting into the England squad I just feel I'm growing more and more. I'm loving it and just need to carry on.

"I feel like I went from strength to strength in my defending last year and that's continued this year.''

Burnley are next in action against Bournemouth at home, in the Premier League, on Saturday Dec. 10.