Keane looking forward to meeting his old boss

TOTTENHAM striker Robbie Keane will face the man who gave him his big break in the game when Brighton visit White Hart Lane today.

Keane was given his professional debut seven years ago by then Wolves manager Mark McGhee.

Despite losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final that season, McGhee left Molineux the following campaign and had a spell at Millwall before his appointment at Brighton in 2003.

Keane has had spells with Coventry, Inter Milan and Leeds - but the 24-year-old Irish international has not forgotten his first boss.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him and he is a good man,” Keane said. “He looked after me when I made my debut to the time he left and I have great admiration for him.”

Keane is likely to play as a lone striker today - as Fredi Kanoute and Jermain Defoe are injured - but has been deployed in the support striker role McGhee introduced him to.

“I was a striker in the youth team and did really well,” Keane added. “He put me just behind the front two and sometimes up front. Most of my first year I played just behind, and in the second year I played up top.

“He gave me the number 10 role which, as a young lad just starting in the first team, I really enjoyed.”

Brighton are currently 18th in the Championship but McGhee has a number of exciting young prospects, including former Chelsea striker Leon Knight.

“Mark has always done well as a manager and it is no surprise because of the way he is,” Keane said.

“It will be nice to see him as I haven’t seen him for a long time. He likes his teams to play football and score goals. I’m sure it will be an exciting game but it is one we have to look at getting a good win from.”