Robbie keen to earn his Spurs

Robbie Keane is preparing to head back to Tottenham to fight for his place as they begin their Champions League campaign.

The Republic of Ireland captain had been on loan since January at Celtic, where he appeared to rediscover the form that persuaded Liverpool to part with £20million in 2008 after impressing in his first spell at Spurs.

His lack of playing time at Anfield, however, turned the move into a disaster, with the 29-year-old heading back to White Hart Lane after just six months with the Reds.

Keane never really got back to his best after returning to Spurs, having to compete with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko for a starting place.

However, he now feels that he is back to somewhere near his best, with 16 goals in 19 appearances during his time at Parkhead.

"I just think I was maybe in a little bit of a rut at Liverpool and going back to Tottenham," he said.

"I did well when I went back first and then did well at the start of the season, and then I just didn't have that hunger that I had and I think I maybe needed to go away to get that back.

"I certainly got that back at Celtic. It certainly got me back on track and really enjoying my football again.

"For me, it is just about playing games. I have got that back now and it's up to me now to go back to Tottenham and get myself in that team and stay in that team if I get that opportunity.

"As a player, you lose confidence sometimes and I lost confidence maybe a small bit.

"But it is important that you try to get that back as soon as possible, and maybe going to Celtic was the best thing that happened to me."

Keane revealed that not playing regular football at Anfield was a reason for hia failure to find form, stating that he wanted to be playing in every minute of every game.

But despite the rumours of unrest at White Hart Lane, Keane insisted he was happy to go back to Spurs and try to force his way back into Redknapp's plans.

"I am not one of these people who like to sit on the bench and pick up their money and be happy with that," Keane added.

"As a kid, you don't dream of playing bits and bobs of games, you want to play every game.

"As a player, that's where you get your sharpness and your fitness.

"I don't like to train every day of the week and then come Saturday, not play. I have always been like that.

"I am going back to Tottenham to start pre-season and to be at Tottenham unless Harry pulls me in or the chairman pulls me in and says otherwise."