Hammer time for Keane

ROBBIE KEANE has never been afraid to take on a challenge, but he has a huge task on his hands if he wants to earn a permanent move to West Ham.

The Ireland captain, 30, yesterday ended an unhappy second spell at Tottenham by signing for West Ham on loan until the end of the season, and the finer points of the deal include a clause stating that Keane will move to the club permanently if the Premier League’s bottom club avoid relegation.

It is a tough call, considering only one club in the past decade have survived after being bottom at Christmas, as West Ham were.