Jol coy on Keane

Spurs boss Martin Jol remained tight-lipped about striker Robbie Keane's fitness ahead of this weekend.

Spurs have shown signs of recent improvement under the affable Dutchman since the bizarre end of Jacques Santini's reign and the Republic of Ireland striker is key to his plans.

Jol told Sky Sports News: "I'm not sure how he is to be honest. We will wait and see tomorrow and then take a view. I hope he can play.

"Robbie Keane is one of our main strikers, he scored the winner against Blackburn, so we are keen that he builds on the confidence that will have given him.

"It is a slight problem, but we have some fine youngsters in reserve who can play there - Mark Yeates for example is doing terrifically in the reserves and Edson da Silva could probably fit in too. I don't see a big problem there."

Da Silva is an example of Spurs technical director Frank Arnesen's much vaunted European contacts book. A product of Benfica, Da Silva then moved to PSV Eindhoven where his time was blighted by passport difficulties and he could not play for two years.

Arnesen jumped at the chance to bring him to White Hart Lane saying: "When he got his passport he went straight into the Under-20 side of the Portuguese national team for the Toulon Tournament, scoring against Italy and Brazil.

"However he never really settled in at PSV and, for me, it was the moment to take a look at him again. I know him and, for no money, it is a good time to give him a chance."

Spurs travel to Eastlands on Saturday to play Manchester City in a tie that pits two similar clubs together. Each yearn for former glories, each have strong and highly characteristic support, and each frustrate and delight in equal measure - with no better illustration being last year's titanic 4-3 FA Cup clash when Spurs squandered a 3-0 half-time lead.

With City's form as unpredictable as Spurs', expect the unexpected on Saturday.