Ramos: Spurs can handle Keane loss

Juande Ramos has demanded improvement from his Tottenham side but is confident his players will rise to the challenge of playing without Robbie Keane for three matches.

Keane has impressed with 12 goals this season despite Spurs’ struggles and his run of form has only been halted by a questionable decision last week from referee Phil Dowd to send off the striker for a tackle on Birmingham’s Fabrice Muamba.

The Football Association rejected an appeal and Keane will start his suspension tomorrow when Manchester City arrive at White Hart Lane.

Ramos will choose between Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent in attack as Spurs look to climb away from the danger in the Barclays Premier League.

“I hope and I believe my other strikers will take on the responsibility now in the absence of Keane and help the team win games,” said the head coach.

“But, in general terms, the team have a lot of room for improvement and there is a lot for us to do.”

Spurs were 16th heading into the weekend, and Ramos has told his players to wake up to the reality of a relegation battle.

“It’s the reality,” said the head coach. “At the moment we are closer to relegation than we are to the European places.

“So we’re left with no alternative but to fight against this and get as many points as possible. And if we’re capable of coming out of this situation, we will think about something better. But at this moment this is the reality.”

Ramos has also been short on numbers in defence. Full-backs Pascal Chimbonda and Lee Young-Pyo needed to be checked after the midweek UEFA Cup clash against Anderlecht but the pair look to be winning their fitness battles.

Younes Kaboul’s woeful form led to midfielder Didier Zokora playing at centre-back in Brussels, so Ramos has a decision to make whether to restore the French youngster.

UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Anderlecht after Zokora appeared to be struck by a lighter thrown from the crowd at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson also picked up a metal rod which he handed to the fourth official after the final whistle of the 1-1 draw.

“UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Anderlecht for the throwing of objects by spectators,” said a UEFA spokesman.

The Belgian side have already been fined for crowd disturbances during a Champions League qualifier earlier in the season against Fenerbahce and UEFA officials will take previous cases into consideration when they meet.

The punishments range from a fine to expulsion from the tournament.

“The control and disciplinary body will meet on December 13 to make a decision on this case,” the spokesman added.