TOTTENHAM skipper Robbie Keane this week set his sights on finishing in the European places next season following Saturday s victory over West Ham at the Lane. Spurs all but secured their Premier League status with the deserved 1-0 win. Roman Pavlyuchenk

TOTTENHAM skipper Robbie Keane this week set his sights on finishing in the European places next season following Saturday's victory over West Ham at the Lane.

Spurs all but secured their Premier League status with the deserved 1-0 win. Roman Pavlyuchenko came off the bench to strike the winner in the 65th minute, putting the Lilywhites three points off seventh place, which should be good enough for a Europa League spot.

"Europe has to be our aim now," Keane told Wood&Vale Sport. "We've done the hard bit - in the last eight games since I've been here. I think it's five wins, two draws and a loss.

"It was important that we got the three points and got over that 40-point mark, that was the aim when I came here. We were third or fourth from bottom, so it's been a great few months and we've really pushed up the league.

"It's been incredible for the lads. We've dug deep and done really well and we're out of it. We have the squad and we can now focus on moving forward."

Keane is aware that Spurs did not seem interested in being in the Uefa Cup this season, saying: "It was a different position that we were in this season. You have to take that into consideration.

"We were nearly bottom of the table, so our main focus was to concentrate on staying in this Premier League.

"You ask any supporter - we want to stay in the Premier. That's where it happens and we're fortunate enough now that that's the case. There's still a long way to go, but if we do get to [Europe], I think it would be a great achievement for the club, probably one of the best for a long time because of the position we were in one or two months ago.

"It's important that clubs like Tottenham are in these big competitions because it is a club that deserves that, and has the players to do that."

l Jermain Defoe has returned to full training after more than two months on the sidelines with a foot injury. The striker required surgery on a stress fracture to his right foot in February.

pat.mooney@hamhigh.co.uk

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