Dominic Fifieldtalks to Spurs' Robbie Keane who is thriving as a role model at White Hart Lane this season
Responsibility rather crept up on Robbie Keane. A player whose nomadic career had taken him wide-eyed from Molineux to Milan within weeks of his 20th birthday has found acceptance in north London, even if his growing maturity has gone unnoticed amid the distraction caused by the absence of Tottenham Hotspur's other born leader. If Spurs prevail at Wembley tomorrow Ledley King will lift the League Cup as captain, but the influence of the striker who will follow him up the steps to the royal box has been no less telling.
This has been the season when Keane grew up. Previously his most telling contributions had arguably benefited the Republic of Ireland rather than his numerous club sides, but all that has changed. He has his critics in Ireland these days yet a striker who was hugely promising at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City, if peripheral at Internazionale and Leeds United, and has cost a combined €50.3 million in transfer fees, is thriving as a role model at White Hart Lane.
No other forward managed as many Premier League goals in 2007. He had always scored his fair share but, even so, he remained prone to tantrums and the loss of his starting berth to Jermain Defoe, Freddie Kanoute or Mido. Now he is integral.
Martin Jol belatedly recognised as much, the striker contributing his best tally of 22 goals last term. He already boasts 20 this time around and Juande Ramos, recruited to revive a flagging side, instantly chose to rely on the 27-year-old's on-field influence.
Captaincy can be awkward as a forward runner, high up the pitch and isolated from the action, but he clearly relishes such responsibility. Off the field he is quietly spoken - he cut a nervy and almost embarrassed figure accepting a watch in the boardroom as reward for scoring his 100th Spurs goal recently - but it was Keane who offered his team-mates bellowed encouragement in freezing Prague last week during what should have been a routine Uefa Cup victory against Slavia. He has become an inspiration, and not only for his goals.
The Irishman has worn the armband in King's absence but if Spurs prevail tomorrow the centre-half will lift the trophy, even if he does not finish the game. "I've only been taking on that role because Ledley's had a lot of injuries," said Keane. "Ledley will lift the cup. He's the captain. It's as simple as that."
That was a selfless response from a player who has never even been to Wembley, let alone played there. "I've driven past it a few times and got lost. It's every kid's dream, even in Ireland, to play there. Everyone talks about it and, as a Liverpool fan, the game that stands out most for me was the FA Cup final against Manchester United when Eric Cantona scored the winner."
Keane needs an occasion such as this. He may be his country's leading goalscorer but his standing has suffered with the national team's recent decline, and his defence of Steve Staunton's failing regime, on the Late Late Show only days before the manager was sacked, rather tarnished his own reputation. But he has ascended new heights at Spurs.
"Getting to a final shows we are going in the right direction," he said. "The future looks bright for this team . . . Beating Arsenal [ 5-1] in the semi-final gave us the belief that we can compete with teams like that. We've been challenging them for a few years now but we were never really close to beating them. We'd always get a goal here or there but nothing more. But even in the league game at the Emirates [ lost 2-1, with Keane missing a penalty at 1-1] and there again in the semi-final first leg [ drawn 1-1] we should have won. Those performances were leading up to a victory for us.
"We've realised we need to start progressing among that top four in the league and with this squad of players we believe we can certainly do that. We're desperate to win something . . . We'll be going out there on Sunday desperate."
Tottenham have not reached a major final for six years and Keane not at all, though both might have expected to be offered this stage by Ramos. The Spaniard's record in cup competitions is startling and he has succeeded immediately where predecessors fell short. "I'm not surprised because of what he did at Sevilla," said the striker. "Only Valencia had come close to challenging Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain recently, so for [ Ramos] to do that with those resources was a great achievement. He is very positive, the way he wants us to play suits the players we have.
"We were all reassured after 10 minutes of his arrival. He sat us down and told the team what he wanted us to do. They were simple things, nothing we didn't know already, but it clarified things in our heads a bit. It was impressive. He came with a presence because of what he had done at Sevilla. Given his record, if you're in a final, you'd want him with you."
Keane will also have Dimitar Berbatov with him. Jermaine Jenas and Jonathan Woodgate agreed yesterday the partnership, with 36 goals this season, is the best in the Premier League. When the trend is towards lone strikers, Spurs have a pair who will unsettle Chelsea. With Keane's energy, Berbatov glides through contests with menace.
"We complement each other," added the Irishman. "Tall players like him are usually seen as target men, nothing else, but he has everything. I've not played with better."
Yet, if the Bulgarian catches the eye, it is Keane who drives this team on. Experience has brought maturity. Tomorrow, it may bring tangible reward. ...
