The best is yet to come from Keane - Hoddle

Tottenham 2 Southampton 1

Glenn Hoddle claims Robbie Keane will finally realise his potential after signing for Tottenham.

After playing for five different clubs in the past three years, Hoddle feels it is time for Keane to settle down - and he sees White Hart Lane as the perfect place for the Republic of Ireland striker to do it.

Keane’s travels have taken him from Wolves to Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds and now Spurs, in deals totalling £38m (€60m), and Hoddle feels that has affected his development.

"Robbie is 22 and he is nowhere near his peak, and if that pattern of moving around had continued, you would never have seen him at his peak," said Hoddle.

"He needs consistency now, both inside and outside of his football life.

"Robbie is at home now and I think he will be here for a long time. He has signed a long contract and I told him he needed consistency to get the best out of him.

"If you are travelling around and are not quite settled, and your feet are not under the table, then you are never going to get the best out of yourself, and it is time now for Robbie to really concentrate on his football and get some consistency.

"I think Robbie is going to enjoy playing here and living down here. He knows Dean Richards from his Wolves days and he also knows Jamie Redknapp well, and he has been introduced to everyone in the dressing room."

As well as Spurs being good for Keane, Hoddle believes Keane will be good for Spurs.

"I feel we have got Robbie at a very good time and he has got his best moments to come," said Hoddle. "He is a bubbly character, he is infectious and he loves the game. I think the fans will take to him because he is nice to watch.

"Robbie is a cute player who sees things and he will give us something new. He has got an end product, which players like Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola have, and certainly he could progress to that quality.

"He is a great player now, and if Mick McCarthy continues to work his magic with the Republic then he will play in more World Cups and European Championships and become a better player."

Keane saw his new club climb to the top of the Premiership yesterday after a 2-1 victory over Southampton.

Les Ferdinand opened the scoring before Mauricio Taricco scored an own goal.

Battling Saints looked like holding on for a draw until Spurs won an injury-time penalty, which was coolly stroked home by skipper Teddy Sheringham.