Spurs suffer pre-season blow with Keane injury

Tottenham coach Jacques Santini is facing up to having to survive the first six weeks of the new Premiership season without the services of striker Robbie Keane (pictured).

Tottenham coach Jacques Santini is facing up to having to survive the first six weeks of the new Premiership season without the services of striker Robbie Keane.

The Republic of Ireland international has severe ligament damage in his right ankle which could result in French attacker Olivier Thomert's transfer from Lens being rushed through.

Thomert could be in place at White Hart Lane in time for Spurs' opening fixture against Liverpool at home on August 14.

Keane, who misses Ireland's friendly against Bulgaria four days later and could be doubtful for the World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Switzerland in early September, was taken off on a stretcher after only half an hour of Wednesday's friendly against Rangers in Glasgow.

He stayed down after a block-tackle by Rangers defender Marvin Andrews and later had a brace fitted to his right leg.

He told Tottenham's official website www.spursfc.co.uk on Friday: "It is very frustrating. You go through pre-season matches to get your fitness up for the season and then something like this happens.

"But I'm not going to get too down about it. I'm going to keep myself ticking over. I'm a quick healer normally and so hopefully I'll be back before too long."

Perennial underachievers Spurs have won only one of their six pre-season friendlies so far - against non-League Stevenage - and Santini has warned: "We can't repeat the mistakes we made against Rangers for their two goals on Wednesday."

"We have to cut them out because against a top side like Rangers those mistakes mean goals and it would be the same against Liverpool," said the former France manager.