Robbie Keane wants Spurs return next season

The on-loan Celtic striker wants to fight for his place at Tottenham rather than settle for a permanent deal in Scotland.

Robbie Keane confirmed yesterday that he intends to wear the white of Tottenham at the start of next season, not the white and green of Celtic. The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland striker joined the Scottish giants on loan on the final day of the January transfer window and has impressed since arriving in Glasgow with nine goals. His form has prompted talk that Tony Mowbray, the Bhoys manager, could seek to keep him at Parkhead next term.

But Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, insisted on Friday there was "no way" he wanted Keane's loan to be extended beyond its current length and the player himself does not see himself staying in Scotland beyond this season either. "I've got a three-year contract at Tottenham so I will go back there in the summer," Keane, who rejoined the White Hart Lane club last January following an unhappy six-month spell with Liverpool, told www.skysports.com.

"It's just a loan move and always has been. "I've got a lot of friends down at Tottenham and I miss the lads. I speak to them all the time and they are doing well at the moment. "I also miss the tea ladies - they are very good down there." Redknapp, who bought Keane back to the North London club, following his unsuccessful stint at Anfield, for £12 million (Dh66.1m), told the Scottish Sun on Friday: "I don't see us loaning Robbie out again.

"We paid a lot of money for him. So it's not something I see happening. It would obviously be up to the chairman but I couldn't see it being a possibility. "I certainly would not want it to be happening. "Robbie's only on loan until the end of this season as far as we're concerned. "We want him back so in my mind there's no way of another loan deal." [e-mail]