Robbie Keane - loan now confirmed

[Brend'Watkins]

Can't wait to see his gymnastically perfect goal celebration.

[PeterWithesShin]

[PeterWithesShin]

The club are pleased to confirm that a loan deal has been agreed with LA Galaxy for Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane.

Subject to clearance by FIFA, the 31-year-old striker will be available for our game against Everton on Saturday at Villa Park and up to and including our game against Wigan on February 25.

He will also be eligible to play in the FA Cup.

Ireland's record goalscorer in international football with 53 goals, Keane was among the most prolific strikers in the Premier League between 1999 - when he joined Coventry City for a then British record transfer fee for a teenager - and May 2011, before he joined the current MLS Cup winners.

Villa manager Alex McLeish has emphasised Keane's "leadership qualities, his movement and experience" and Keane is relishing the prospect of passing on some of that experience to younger team-mates such as Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan and Ciaran Clark as well as linking up again with Darren Bent and with Gabby Agbonlahor and Stephen Ireland in Villa's upcoming games.

"I'm delighted to be back in the Premier League," Keane said.

"This is only short-term, of course, but there has been a lot of speculation over the years linking my name to Villa and, finally, I'm here.

"I'm excited about it and I know I'll really enjoy my time here.

"It's only for two months but I will do my absolute best in these two months.

"Villa is a great club, a club with a massive tradition and standing in the game and Villa Park is one of the finest stadiums I've ever played in. If selected to play on Saturday, I will genuinely be looking forward to it and I'll be excited to be involved again in Premier League action.

"I've been training with the players here for the past few days and it's been great but I'm not naive enough to think I'll just walk straight into the team.

"There are really good players here - Darren, Gabby, Emile and young Nathan Delfouneso and Andy Weimann - but if I can help and contribute to the overall effort of the team then hopefully I will be of benefit to Aston Villa. That's my aim."

Villa's record signing Darren Bent, who played alongside Keane at Tottenham, believes that Keane's loan from Galaxy is a clever move by the club.

"It's a top signing, a really clever move. In training Robbie has looked razor-sharp and up for the challenge," Bent said.

"He's a great player and he has been for many years.

"There is no doubt he will give absolutely everything during his time here.

"He knows the game inside out and, from what I have seen of him so far, he's bright as a button.

"He will help all the other strikers here but, more importantly, he will help Villa.

"He will bring experience which will aid a few of the younger lads who are breaking through into the team and the other youngsters in and around the place. And he will bring goals too, hopefully.

"He also brings that competition to the striking department. Gabby's in great form, I'm coming back into form after my injury problems, Emile has an injury but there's Nathan and Andy Weimann, too, so the competition will only be enhanced with Robbie's presence here.

"I think he will do really well for us. He's such a smart player."

[Summers]

Fuck it. He's a talented, clever, forward. I'm glad he's here and I hope he does well during his short stay here. It's a massive shame it took the club so long to sign him.

[Villafirst]

Note it says ''subject to clearance from FIFA'' I doubt he'll be available for Saturday.

[wozwebs]

Just watched the video on AVTV. When asked about playing in the FA Cup for Villa he says "Yeah, it would be great whoever we get. Leeds a former club and Arsenal after my Spurs connections"

So quite obviously the video and these photos were taken on Monday afternoon. Not sure why it took until Thursday for it to be announced but welcome Robbie, as everyone has said 10 years too late but better late than never.

[ktvillan]

Fuck it. He's a talented, clever, forward. I'm glad he's here and I hope he does well during his short stay here. It's a massive shame it took the club so long to sign him.

In his time he has been a very good PL forward, but at the Spammers last year it did look as if that time had passed.  Still, won't do much harm I suppose.  Wonder if the Beckham circus will turn up at VP to see his teammate in action?

[Small Rodent]

Can't wait to see his gymnastically perfect goal celebration.

Just watch as we'll be the first club he injures himself doing it!!

[supertom]

I knew the loan wouldn't last long but Feb 25th? Blimey. It's even two months. Barely enough time for him to get into the swing of things. Hopefully he'll do a Thierry though.

[levico]

I'm filing this move under the 'we've got little to lose' heading. It's a bit like Chris Sutton - won't go down in history of one of Villa's greats but he did a job, was physical presence on the pitch for a few games and scored the winning goal at Everton (didn't cost £750k though).

[richardhubbard]

If he can 2-3 goals in this period I would be more than happy

[Toronto Villa]

Fuck it. He's a talented, clever, forward. I'm glad he's here and I hope he does well during his short stay here. It's a massive shame it took the club so long to sign him.

In his time he has been a very good PL forward, but at the Spammers last year it did look as if that time had passed.  Still, won't do much harm I suppose.  Wonder if the Beckham circus will turn up at VP to see his teammate in action?

My thoughts on his West Ham experience is that he rolled in there without any real fire in his belly. He couldn't get into the Spurs team which in fairness was, and still is very talented, and he wasn't up for the fight of a proper relegation battle. Additionally, he's having to play alongside Carlton Cole, and in a team that had seen it's best player in Scott Parker get injured thus ending any real hope of them staying up. I'm guessing also with Mr Miserable Avram Grant in charge the place was probably like a morgue so hardly the kind of environment to stoke the coals, so to speak. Then you've got those wankers in the boardroom who are back stabbing the manager every five minutes, and her with her weekly column in The Sun throwing her opinion to nobody that gives a shit.

The situation at Villa is very different. Even though we're not pulling up any trees ourselves you still get the feeling the atmosphere is still good around the club. That there are some good characters there, and his link up with the Irish lads will push him also. He's also seen the other side of the fence in the MLS and he will still have a point to prove to those people who say he's washed up. That he's gone to the MLS for his career and not because he doesn't have it anymore. It's a short term deal and he'll get one more opportunity to show that he still has something left at this level. He'll come in as a squad player, but if he can force himself into the starting eleven, as much as it will be a bit disruptive to lose him at the end, it will mean he'll have made some meaningful contribution.

[garyshawsknee]

Not sure where to post this,but Albrightons on Talksport in the next hour talking about Keane.

[Kingthing]

Welcome to the monkey house.

[PaulWinch again]

At least he spoke well and Bent seems happy.