Keane told he is part of plans at Spurs

TOTTENHAM head coach Martin Jol has told striker Robbie Keane that he remains firmly in his plans despite leaving him on the bench for their home victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Spurs travel to Ewood Park to play Blackburn tomorrow night as Premiership leaders with maximum points from two games and yet to concede a goal. Goals from Jol’s preferred strikeforce of Mido and Jermain Defoe put Spurs top of the table for the first time in three years.

Keane, who got in on the action as a second-half substitute against Boro, has been continually linked with a number of clubs including Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa.

But Jol, who sold Mali striker Fredi Kanoute to Sevilla last week for €6.5 million, is determined to hang on to Keane.

“We had the same situation last year. Even today sometimes Defoe or Mido are not happy. Mido reads all the speculation and sometimes comes into my office and says ‘what are you doing?’. Then I tell him that I am happy with him and the rest.

“Robbie scored 12 goals last season and is a gifted player. Everybody would like to have Robbie in their team but it is impossible.

“Don’t forget he was injured for a week otherwise I might have had second thoughts about playing him against Middlesbrough because Jermain played for England during the week. He started training last Thursday and hopefully Robbie can be involved in the next couple of games and be on top of his game.”

Keane’s Republic of Ireland team-mate John O’Shea has admitted he never considered the prospect of quitting Man United this summer.

The Irish defender is expected to officially sign a new four-year contract this week, ending any hope Newcastle or Celtic might have had of prising him away from Old Trafford.

“I never wanted to go anywhere,” O’Shea said.

“I couldn’t do anything about the speculation really. I suppose I could have come out and said something but I couldn’t see the point because I knew I wanted to stay. Thankfully, everything has been agreed now, it is just a question of signing it all up.”

Clinton Morrison’s projected €3m move from Birmingham to Norwich is far from signed and Crystal Palace have now thrown their hat into the ring for the Irish international striker.

Palace assistant manager Neil McDonald said: “Clinton Morrison is an international footballer who scores goals.

“We need a player like that - someone who can work in the box and put the ball in the back of the net. But I’m not sure whether we’ve put in an offer for him.”