Keane still out in the cold

ROBBIE KEANE returns to Tottenham’s squad tonight for the Champions League decider against Young Boys but is likely to suffer frustration again by being kept on the bench.

It is a situation that has led to Keane being linked with a move away from White Hart Lane before the transfer window closes, although a planned groin operation for Jermain Defoe complicates matters for the Republic of Ireland captain.

Defoe goes under the knife on Monday and it puts Keane in the frame for a rare run of games, given he has replaced the England international from the bench twice in his two appearances this season.

Keane started as a first-choice striker for Harry Redknapp a year ago but his loan to Celtic in January illustrated how dramatically he has fallen out of favour with the Spurs manager.

Redknapp retains an interest in Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano and Keane is viewed as the obvious striker to move on if a deal can be struck with the Spanish club to sign the Brazil striker.

The former Liverpool forward, after missing the Premier League trip to Stoke at the weekend, has recovered from a knee complaint and trained ahead of the clash Spurs need to win to reach the Champions League group stages after returning from Switzerland 3-2 behind.

But the talk was not of Keane. Instead it was whether Peter Crouch would be allowed to leave or whether Defoe’s form can improve after just two goals in his final 13 Spurs matches last season.

“The goals have dried up for Jermain,” Redknapp said. “I have got other people, Roman Pavlyuchenko can score, Peter Crouch was top class at the weekend.

“Crouchy is not for sale, he will not be going anywhere – he hasn’t got a price on his head.”

Redknapp confirmed Defoe will travel to Germany for an operation on his groin, although he is only expected to miss a fortnight of action, leaving Keane a small window of opportunity if he is still at the club.

Keane’s role against Young Boys could be increasingly important if Spurs fail to level the tie in the early stages and need to chase the game and use firepower from the bench.

Defoe himself admits the competition from squad players means every player has to be on top form or face the axe.

“We have players who can come in and do the same job,” said Defoe. “We have one of the strongest squads in the Premier League and we’re good enough to play on the Champions League stage. On Tuesday nights you don’t want to be at home watching Eastenders – you want to be at White Hart Lane playing fantastic teams.”

Redknapp has billed the game as an all-or-nothing clash, telling his players they simply do not deserve to be in the competition if they cannot beat Young Boys.

He said: “At 3-0 you could see 4-0, 5-0, 6-0. We got a goal back and we got better control in the second half but they are dangerous opposition.

“If we play as we can play we are going to be very difficult to beat. I wouldn’t say we’re favourites. But if we can’t win we don’t deserve to be in the competition – what good would we be in the group stages.

“We’ve got to swarm all over them from the start; I wouldn’t say we have to be patient, we’ve got to be all over them and play with intensity. Our pride is at stake.”