Cashing in on Robbie Keane

On Monday at midnight, the striker's temporary relocation from White Hart Lane was being lauded as an economic marvel as he took the acclaim from an incredible 3,000-plus gathering at Celtic Park. For around a 1 million outlay on four months' wages, the Republic of Ireland striker would restore the feelgood factor to the club's trading. He would put bums on seats, flog merchandise, and, most importantly, shift the momentum in the SPL to allow Celtic to bank 12m from guaranteed entry to the Champions League.

Around 22 hours later, as he trudged off the Rugby Park pitch after a 1-0 defeat, the only thing Keane and his team-mates seemed to have sold were the jerseys – and possibly manager Tony Mowbray down the river.

On reflection, the loss to Kilmarnock made the chaotic scenes and dazzling hype surrounding Keane's arrival on loan appear altogether silly. And also cast the signing in an entirely different light. It isn't the Irishman's fault, but his presence will galvanise opponents and so could actually have a counter-productive impact as Celtic look to claw back Rangers' ten-point advantage. And, though he isn't to blame, the saviour status accorded to the striker merely heaps the pressure on Mowbray, whose side face Dunfermline away this afternoon in an Active Nation Scottish Cup fifth round tie they dare not lose.

When Keane met with the Sunday press at Lennoxtown the other day he referred regularly to the "few months", "short time" and "small period" he will spend in Glasgow. There was little pretence, beyond the "see what happens" concession, to staying beyond his loan deal. Considering he cost Tottenham Hotspur 12m a year ago, and earns 68,000 a week, it was purely out of duty he was even asked such questions. "I am here to the end of the season. I have a contract with Tottenham Hotspur and will concentrate on these few months, getting games under my belt, and hope to progress this club," he said.

Note the order of those priorities. Keane, first off, listed what Celtic could do for him, rather than the other way round. And did so in a manner that gave an indication how his club career has stalled. He last scored from open play in Ireland's World Cup play-off against France in mid-November. The Rugby Park encounter was his first full match in a month. "This was a good opportunity for me to get minutes under my belt, get games. It worked out well for everyone involved," he said.

Keane has been an imminent Celtic signing on supporters' chatrooms for years, but until "four or five o'clock" on Monday it was never close to becoming a reality. "Obviously, they have tried to get me for years but in the circumstances it wasn't possible," he said. "When I wasn't getting my game they were always calling for me to come up on loan. This time it was just perfect, and worked out well for both clubs and me."

There has been plenty of verbiage devoted to the fact that Keane is at Celtic because the presence of the Irish captain and record goalscorer appeals to the club's major shareholder and Irish billionaire, Dermot Desmond. It has also been presented as a sop to the club's Irish-obsessive support in a difficult time. Moreover, some commentators down south have been sniffy about how desperate Keane must be that he would take flight to the backwater of the Scottish league.

There is merit in all these viewpoints, but it would be unfair to present Keane as a player foisted on Mowbray, up north for a jolly. The Celtic manager knows the potential worth of the player, especially in a modest environment. "I like bright, intelligent footballers, and if you break his assets down, chief among them is his intelligence," Mowbray said. "The bottom line is that it is my responsibility to get the best players we can on the football pitch and Robbie Keane fits that category of high-quality footballer. So if an opportunity comes up, you bring him."

And it should be recognised that the opportunity Keane has taken up is one that does have genuine emotion wrapped up in it. The 29-year-old speaks with authenticity and authority about his allegiance to Celtic. The man from Tallaght in Dublin doesn't pause when asked to name his favourite childhood player, recalling he was given Paul McStay shinguards for Christmas when a boy. The club clearly means something to him.

"I have been lucky over the years that any time I've played against Celtic the fans have always given me a great reception," he said. "At Wembley at the start of the season, they were singing or clapping. And when I came up for Jackie McNamara's testimonial (in June 2005] I was warming up on the sidelines and they gave me a standing ovation. That always stuck in my mind."

And his last game at Celtic Park as a punter is also seared into his consciousness. "It was two years ago. Celtic beat Rangers 2-1. (Jan Vennegoor of] Hesselink scored in the last minute. The atmosphere was electric, the fans were overjoyed. I went away from that game thinking, 'hopefully one day I'll be part of something like that'." But, he maintains, his motivation won't be compromised by fixtures such as today's at East End Park. "Listen, I'm a professional, and once you put that jersey on it doesn't matter who you are playing," he said.

"I didn't come up here just to play the Rangers game, I came to play for Celtic and whatever team goes in front of you. I'm not worried who I play against."

Keane is just here, and just passing through. The fact there is about half a team of potential first-picks also just in the door, he accepts, will make things difficult for the current crop, and by extension Mowbray. "If you bring in one or two players you can kind of get away with it, but when you have five or six new players, of course it will take time," he admitted. "For me, personally, we don't have that much time. For me, the sooner the better." If Keane doesn't contribute to a positive Celtic result as soon as this afternoon, he might end up thinking the sooner the better for the end of his loan deal.