Keane’s red alert for United

TOTTENHAM striker Robbie Keane believes Manchester United face a tough test of their title credentials at Old Trafford tonight.

The 24-year-old, who is still good friends with United centre-back Rio Ferdinand from their time at Leeds, will be leading the attack for Spurs against a side who have kept three consecutive clean sheets.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 15 games in all competitions, but Martin Jol’s side have also shown fine form by winning six of their last seven games - including the impressive 5-2 win over Everton on Saturday.

England striker Jermain Defoe could miss the clash with a knee injury, but Keane believes United will not be relishing facing a Spurs side playing with confidence.

“Obviously it’s a massive game, Keane said. “Manchester United are a massive club with world-class players.

“It’s going to be a tough game, we know that, but the way we’re playing at the moment I’m sure United won’t be looking forward to us going there.

“It’s going to be tough but one all the players are looking forward to.”

Keane was on target against the Toffees on Saturday - his fourth in six games - as Spurs climbed to seventh in the Barclays Premiership.

Third-placed United need three points to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Chelsea above them, and they remain favourites to take the points at Old Trafford despite a shortage of firepower in attack.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha are still injured, while Wayne Rooney is suspended after receiving a three-match ban for improper conduct for shoving Bolton’s Tal Ben Haim in the face.

But head coach Jol is still aware of United’s other options and the quality among their squad. “Every game is difficult for us,” Jol said. “We go to Manchester United and somebody told me Rooney is out, but I saw (Cristiano) Ronaldo coming on against Aston Villa and he beats everyone standing in his way. “They are one of the big teams in Europe and we are not that far to say we’ll go there and get a result because we played Palace and drew.

“We are not 100% yet, we’re doing very well and we’re seventh in the league. Six weeks ago you could not imagine that because we thought we’d be worried in the wrong side of the table. Six weeks later everyone is talking about European football, so we keep our feet on the ground and try to work on getting results, especially at home. If our away form is good that is a plus.”

Jol has to decide whether to keep two-goal hero Dean Marney in the starting line-up for the United clash. The 20-year-old, who was making his full home debut, scored the first and last goal against Everton but could still be dropped to the bench, if Jol decides to bring back Rohan Ricketts or Jamie Redknapp.

Meanwhile Alex Ferguson has hailed resurgent Ryan Giggs as one of the best players in the world. Giggs has given Manchester United chief executive David Gill a major dilemma with a series of inspirational performances in recent weeks.

The 31-year-old scored for the third successive game at Middlesbrough on Saturday, only increasing the clamour for the Welshman to be offered the two-year contract extension he is hoping for. Gill has steadfastly refused to bend on established United club policy of only offering over-30s single season deals, a move Ferguson has backed both in public and private.

However, with Giggs’ contract due to expire in 18 months’ time, the Red Devils hierarchy face the uncomfortable prospect of being forced to sell Giggs in the summer unless they are willing to let the winger see his current deal run down, raising the possibility of him leaving Old Trafford for nothing.

“Ryan Giggs has been fantastic for us in recent weeks. On that form, he is one of the best players in the world.

“It is brilliant to watch a player with the kind of momentum and balance he has and, together with Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, he has really risen to the challenge of what Manchester United are all about,” said Ferguson.

Providing Cristiano Ronaldo recovers from the calf strain he picked up at the Riverside, United are expected to be unchanged, even though Gary Neville has fully recovered from the flu virus that has ruled him out of the last three games.

Brother Phil should keep his slot after filling in superbly, denying Boro’s key man Stewart Downing any space to exhibit his talents and those spoiling tactics will be required again against a Spurs side who have soared into seventh spot since Martin Jol replaced Jacques Santini as coach.