Soccer:Robbie Keane has confirmed he will stay at West Ham next season if they avoid Premier League relegation. The Tottenham and Ireland striker joined the Hammers on loan with a view to a permanent deal — reportedly worth €7million — during the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old has endured an injury-hit start to life at Upton Park but that has not put him off wanting to commit his future should the club complete one of the greatest survival feats in Premier League history.

He told the Hammers’ official programme for today’s clash with Manchester United: “First and foremost, I just want to get on the pitch and play football. It is a short career, so the last thing I want to be doing is sitting on the bench.

“At my age, I need to be playing regular football and, hopefully, with the squad of players we have, we’re quite capable of staying in the Premier League. If that’s the case then I’ll obviously be here next year.”

Keane insisted he would have no qualms leaving Spurs, where he found his chances increasingly limited.

“I would prefer to be criticised for going to play football than be criticised for sitting on the bench and collecting my money,” he added. “I’m not one of those players who picks my money up for not doing anything.

“Some players can do that and are quite happy to sit on the bench and go through life and it’s no problem, but I’m not one of those players.”