Keane to miss six weeks of season with ankle injury

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND striker Robbie Keane is set to miss the first six weeks of the season after scans revealed severe ligament damage in his right ankle.

And that shattering verdict for Spurs coach Jacques Santini could result in French marksman Olivier Thomert joining Spurs from RC Lens this weekend and making a possible Premiership debut against Liverpool at White Hart Lane on August 14.

Keane, who will also miss the international friendly against Bulgaria four days later and could be doubtful for the World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Switzerland in early September, was taken off on a stretcher after only 28 minutes of Wednesday night's tough friendly against Rangers in Glasgow.