Hollywood comeback for classy Keane

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy shows his dejection after the game.

IF THERE had been any lingering questions about whether Robbie Keane remains the potent force of yesteryear, then he provided the most resounding of answers at one of the few stadiums the much-travelled striker can truly call home.

Molineux bore witness to the Irishman’s formative years and some 14 years and £70 million in transfer fees since announcing his arrival with two Wolves debut goals against Norwich, the Ireland skipper repeated the feat on his first start for loan club Aston Villa. And in what style.

With his team deservedly trailing 2-1 at half-time, Keane stole the stage with a second-half finishing masterclass, conjuring up two goals out of nothing to turn the contest on its head.

In the space of 90 minutes, those critics who claimed his cross-Atlantic switch to LA Galaxy was confirmation his career was in a downward spiral were silenced.

“My record is there,” Keane said. “No one is going to take my goals away from me. It was my choice to go over there (to the United States).”

Villa’s decision to bring in Keane had led to raised eyebrows in some quarters.

With Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor and the rejuventated Stephen Ireland among their ranks, where exactly would the 31-year-old fit in and, only available until February 25, was it really worth it?

Already, those doubts have been dealt with too.

“Do I feel vindicated? I don’t look at it that way,” said Villa manager Alex McLeish. “I don’t worry about what people think, people’s criticism, people’s perceptions. I’ve got to do what I think is right.

“Getting someone like Keane was a no-brainer, especially with the way he has conducted himself in the MLS, the fitness that he has now got as opposed to this time last season when he was struggling a bit with injuries.”

So much so, in fact, that the Scot admitted he “would like to think we’d be interested” should Keane wish to make his return to the Premier League a permanent one.

Keane certainly did his former international manager Mick McCarthy no favours.

The pressure on him grows with Wolves now 10 matches without a win in all competitions and in the bottom three for the first time this season.

“I don’t want to be in the bottom three at any stage and it means we’ve moved down from where we were,” he said. “It’s a game we should have won.”

McCarthy was absolutely right. Wolves should have been home and dry by half-time following a scintillating first-half display.

They did gift Villa an early lead when Christophe Berra’s clumsy challenge on Darren Bent handed them a penalty and the England international dusted himself down before slotting home.

A rousing response followed, however, and they levelled within 10 minutes when the superb Michael Kightly cut inside Ciaran Clark too easily from the right before curling past Shay Given.

Ireland’s No. 1 was in fine form, though, denying Steven Fletcher and David Edwards, but the Wales international eventually got on the scoresheet when Kightly’s 31st-minute corner was nodded goalwards by Roger Johnson and he powered a header home from close range.

If the first half belonged to Kightly, then the second certainly belonged to Keane.

His 51st-minute leveller came out of nothing as, 20 yards from goal, he took Clark’s headed pass on the spin before lashing a shot beyond Wayne Hennessey. The goalkeeper, it must be said, should have done better.

Wolves’ task got harder when the outstanding Emmanuel Frimpong was carried off, then Henry received his marching orders for kicking out at Marc Albrighton.

Two pivotal moments, yet what won Villa the game was a moment of magic.

With 84 minutes gone, the ball dropped to Keane on the edge of the area and his fiercely-struck shot crashed in off the underside off the crossbar.

It was the sort of script which belonged in Keane’s new Hollywood home.