EITHER Harry Redknapp has had a cunning plan all along, or he's given up on the transfer market and is trying to make the most of what he's got.

The fact that Robbie Keane hasn't spent more than about half an hour as any one club for the last few years means that I, like a lot of fans, felt sure we'd seen the last of him in a Spurs shirt.

But after a couple of goal-scoring performances in recent weeks, the Irishman is most definitely in favour with the manager and now it seems he's hoping he will resist a transfer to one of the many, many clubs he apparently supported as a young lad growing up in Dublin before the season starts.

Keano netted against Sporting Lisbon and Thierry Henry FC...err, sorry, I mean the New York Red Bulls, during our recent US outings and it looks like he may feature next season after all.

But, despite this, I'm dubious. You have to question his commitment. Sure, he may have supported Liverpool/Celtic/anyone else with a few quid since he was in short trousers, but he's spent the longest period at Spurs than he has anywhere else and, at his peak, was universally adored as a hard-working and productive striker.

I love Robbie Keane, I really do. I love his sharp-shooter/cartwheel goal celebration combo. I love the fact that he covers every blade of grass during a game. I love his two-footedness. I love that he's quite short.

But despite this, I'd rather see him go and bang them in for a club he actually wants to play for than warm the bench and notch up single figures for Tottenham.

Besides, he's still only 30 and we could use the £10 million we're likely to get for him. It's time he made up his mind.

Meanwhile, tonight Spanish club Villarreal visit the Lane for Spurs' first pre-season match in this country and it'll be interesting to see if the senior squad can fare a little better than their younger counterparts, who conspired to draw 2-2 with Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road last night.