Anelka is the “Rolls Royce” of strikers says Manchester City boss Keegan
The £13 million French ace rifled home a fine 83rd-minute winner at Keegan's former club Fulham on Saturday to record his ninth goal of the season.
The former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris St Germain striker showed a clinical touch latching onto Shaun Wright-Phillips' pass and blasting an angled drive past Maik Taylor, after players on both sides had squandered chance after chance.
Anelka's finishing power left Keegan mounting a superlative-filled tribute to Manchester City's record signing, who was actually guilty of a terrible miss before cracking the only goal of the game.
Keegan, whose side will start 2003 in an impressive ninth position, said: "Nicolas is, without doubt, the most unbelievable talent and it's starting to come out in a big way for Man City.
"When you're talking about talent, you're talking about talent with a massive T. And I like working with him an awful lot.
"He's the most exciting player to work with because, despite what everybody thinks, this guy hasn't reached anywhere near his full potential and that's what's frightening."
Asked if he believes Anelka will fulfil his potential, Keegan insisted: "I do, yes. We'll keep working with him and he can go as far as he wants to go.
"We're not talking about a good player. We're talking about an a exceptional player who is only 23 and will get better.
"I've got to think back to when I was 23 and what I was doing then. He's got five years on me in that respect.
"He's a Rolls Royce who just purrs along he doesn't run. He lives for goals and got another one yesterday," said the Man City boss.
Keegan also insisted that the Anelka portrayed in the media, as a spoilt player who allows his brothers to have too much influence over his career, could not be further from the truth.
"You can understand why he's got some of the press he's had but that's not the Nicolas Anelka I know," Keegan added. "He's a very quiet lad and a nice guy.
"And he's got a very good attitude on the football pitch, don't worry about that.
"He's very, very focused and knows what he wants to do. But he can't always do it as we've had games this year when he's worked his socks off for the cause.
"Our fans love him because he's done that for us this year.
"He's very strong and doesn't get many tap-ins as he's not that sort of player.
"The finish yesterday was from a half-chance which he made into a goal. And the great thing about Nicolas Anelka is that he just keeps going. People kick him and he just gets up. You never really see him react.
"He just picks himself up and gets on with it. If he misses a chance, like he did yesterday, he doesn't change anything he just looks at the next ball."
In yesterday's entertaining contest, Peter Schmeichel denied Fulham an early lead with an excellent save from Steve Marlet.
Marlet did beat the big Dane in the 38th minute, but right-back Richard Dunne raced back to clear off his own goal line.
Fulham's Martin Djetou also headed clear from under his crossbar after Ali Benarbia's shot was parried by Maik Taylor who then denied Anelka from close range. Benarbia also blocked Marlet's header on his line. Fulham have now slumped to 16th position, just five points above the drop zone.
Tigana faces new year talks over his contract which expires in the summer - with chairman Mohamed Al Fayed, who strode out of the Loftus Road directors' box before full-time yesterday.
Tigana is in little doubt over his priority for the second half of the season.
"My problem is getting points and trying to save the club to keep us at a high level," said the Fulham boss. "That's my problem."
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