Reuniting Spurs old boys would help Jol keep Whites on track

Should Fulham boss Martin Jol look to Robbie Keane and reunite his partnership with Dimitar Berbatov?

Having enjoyed a successful spell at Aston Villa at the back end of last season, another loan move to the Premier League has been talked about for Keane come January.

Keane – the 11th highest Premier League goalscorer – has been seeing out his career at LA Galaxy for the last 16 months and was named in the MLS’ best XI for 2012 after his goal helped Galaxy clinch the MLS Cup on Saturday.

In the two years Berbatov and Keane partnered each other up front for Tottenham, they scored 91 goals between them.

In their first season together – their only full term under Jol – Berbatov scored 23 and Keane 22, as Spurs finished fifth in the Premier League for the second year running.

We may be a further five years down the line, but there is nothing to suggest they wouldn’t deliver the goods again at Craven Cottage, if only for a short time, and help reignite Fulham’s season.

Fulham fans know Berbatov still has some of his best to offer; they have seen many a touch of class from him, even in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Tottenham. But what of Keane?

After netting 16 goals in the MLS regular season, the Irishman got a hat-trick in the triumph over Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference finals.

In the MLS Cup final – David Beckham’s LA farewell – it was Keane who caught the eye and scored the third goal of a 3-1 win.

Whatever your opinion of the standard of football in the US, Keane still still looks sharp, hungry and effective.

Keane himself has done his best to play down reports of a return to England in the new year, telling reporters in the US last week: “Regarding going back, it isn’t something I’ve even thought about to be honest with you.

“I’m really enjoying my time here, and as long as I keep enjoying myself and as long as I keep letting my football do the talking, I’ll be very happy to stay.”

But Jol has proven his ability to persuade former players to come and work under him again and Keane will have nothing but fond memories of his time playing for the Dutchman, and alongside Berbatov, at Tottenham.

He would provide an alternative to Mladen Petric that would compliment Fulham’s style.

As proven goalscorers in the Premier League go, Keane is one of the very best and he would provide an injection of energy into the team that Fulham currently lack.

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