Robbie Keane to fight for Spurs place

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has today indicated his immediate future at White Hart Lane is secure.

The 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international was not a regular in head coach Martin Jol’s line-up last season, leading to speculation of a transfer away from Spurs.

Keane impressed in a pre-season tournament in South Korea, but believes his fitness is the key to settling at the club.

“It is not a case of putting down a marker, just making sure I’m as fit as I can be,” he said.

“I’m 25 years of age now and I want to knuckle down – not that I haven’t before – as we have quality strikers here who are battling to start the season. I’m no different to the other three lads in that.”

Tottenham lifted the Peace Cup in Suwon after beating French champions Lyon in the final, which Keane feels he has benefited from.

“I’ve come back feeling pretty sharp and I did a bit of work on my own over the summer,” he said.

“I feel good and I hope I am showing that in games. It’s only pre-season though and the most important thing is to carry it through into the season.

“That’s what I want to do, I want to keep going, keep myself fit and do what I did in Korea once the season starts.

“It was a good two weeks and, when you go to places like that, it is important you come back with something. We’ve come back with good fitness and, what we went over there for, the trophy.

“The top Premiership sides take part in these sort of tournaments now and the opposition was a little bit better than we’ve normally faced at that stage, so it was good for us and the lads enjoyed it.”

Keane was impressed with Teemu Tainio, a signing from French club Auxerre who could feature in midfield as a playmaker for Jol.

“He is a little terrier,” Keane told official website www.spurs.co.uk.

“He gets stuck in and can play as well. He will do well in the Premiership with the way he plays.

“Teemu is a good lad who I’m sure will do well here if he carries on playing like he did in Korea.

“I’m not too sure which midfield position he prefers, but he has played in most of them already and looked good. It is good to have someone like Teemu in the squad.”