Keane arrival poses dilemma for Spurs

By Bill Pierce

GLENN HODDLE is weighing up whether to change Tottenham’s table-topping tactical pattern to accommodate new £7m capture Robbie Keane.

Although many believe the talented Republic of Ireland striker was far from first choice among the Spurs manager’s transfer market targets, Keane is still a welcome addition to White Hart Lane and, having become unsettled at Leeds after being regularly confined to the substitutes’ bench, he has already spoken to Hoddle on the subject of starting roles.

‘‘I’ve spoken to Glenn over a couple of days on football matters and I was happy with what he had to say,’’ said Keane, who wins his 38th Irish cap in the opening Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia in Moscow on Saturday.

‘‘Every player just wants to play football and I’m no different. I’ve come here to do well and it is a massive club which is looking to go places. I’ve got to wait because of the international match to get started with my new team-mates but I’m looking forward to that.’’

Hoddle’s dilemma is that skipper Teddy Sheringham, even at 36, is virtually an automatic selection and favours the support-striker role which enables him to drop deeper and provide ammunition for his partner, either Steffen Iversen or Les Ferdinand.

It is highly unlikely Keane, at 5ft 8ins, would be asked to replace either of those two six-footers as the spearhead of the attack and Hoddle admitted: ‘‘I can play Robbie in a front two or just behind the front two.

‘‘He has a great first touch and the end product of a Dennis Bergkamp or a Gianfranco Zola. So he’ll be well suited to that role.’’

Keane, a hero at Wolves and Coventry but largely a bit-part player after his major moves to Inter Milan and Leeds, looks a certain starter for his debut against Fulham at Loftus Road next Wednesday and Hoddle has rejected suggestions the striker was snapped up for the sake of a big buy just ahead of the transfer window closure.

‘‘Robbie is a player who is made for this club. I’ve been tracking him for a while but I didn’t want to alert other clubs to that,’’ said Hoddle.