Keane looks forward after going back

Robbie Keane and Rafael Benitez have drawn a line under the Irishman's brief spell at Liverpool, with the striker already looking forward to a "new chapter" of his Tottenham story.

Keane joined the Anfield club for a fee in the region of £20million in the summer but he became an increasingly peripheral figure. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was ready to welcome the player back to White Hart Lane and is thought to have paid an initial £12million to secure his services.

Keane told the club's official website: "It was a difficult time for me at Liverpool, but there's no point in dwelling on it. I am extremely excited about this new chapter in my career, even though it doesn't feel as if the previous chapter really ended."

He added: "Now I have the chance to work with a fantastic manager in Harry Redknapp, who has done a great job since he came in, so I am lucky to be getting this exciting opportunity."

After his experiences on Merseyside, Keane is pleased to be returning to a club where he is loved by the fans and, critically, virtually guaranteed a regular starting berth.

"Coming back to Spurs was an easy decision to make because this is my home," he added. "It's funny how football works sometimes and situations turn around very quickly, but I can assure fans I will be giving my all to make sure this club stays in the Premier League.

"I'm delighted to be back at a club I have very strong feelings from having previously spent six wonderful years here.

"It would have been difficult for me to have gone anywhere else while a club I have such strong feelings for has this fight on its hands."

He continued: "It's been an up and down season for the club and there's been a lot of change, including a change of manager, but now it's up to us as players to start getting the team up the table."