Robbie Keane has pledged his future to Leeds after a summer of uncertainty for the Republic of Ireland striker.

Keane turned down a £9 million move to Sunderland on his return from the World Cup, and yesterday he said he is keen to prove himself to new Leeds manager Terry Venables after Tottenham expressed an interest in signing him last week.

"The interest is always flattering, but I'm happy at Leeds," he said. "I've said 'no' to Sunderland so, as far as I'm concerned, that's over now.

"Everyone knows that the club needed money. Maybe that situation has changed now Rio (Ferdinand) has gone, maybe it hasn't.

"I just want to stay, and that's no snub to Peter Reid whom I respect as a great manager."

Keane also revealed he had spoken to Venables on the club's tour of the Far East and Australia, but "the chat wasn't about me saying I wanted to play".

Keane's comments mean Reid must step up his bid to bring in new blood after admitting defeat in his chase for the Dubliner.

"I don't really want to get involved in any big discussion about the situation," he told the Sunderland Echo from the club's training camp near Antwerp in Belgium.

"The simple fact is that he was a player we were very interested in, but no deal can be done at this present time, so that's that.

"I think everyone knows the position that we want to strengthen in, and the fact is that I'm looking at a number of possible targets.

"Obviously, it's frustrating at the moment, but we will keep on and I know we'll get players in."

Earlier in the day, Keane had done his chances of earning a starting role under Venables no harm by scoring the winner for Leeds against a stubborn Bangkok XI in their final friendly in their three-game trip to East Asia and Australia.

After Eirik Bakke had blasted a 30-metre rocket into the net in the 24th minute, Keane doubled the scoring 13 minutes later as he finished a textbook passing move with a deft touch.

But sluggish play by Leeds midfielders at the close of the first half allowed the Thais back into the match.

Kiattisak Senamuang, a former Premier League player and Thailand's star striker, brought the home side back to 2-1 when he curved a shot inside the right post in the 43rd minute.

His celebratory somersault, clearly a nod to flipping World Cup standout Keane, saw the Thai international slip off his feet in light drizzle at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.

Meanwhile, Keane's sometime international strike partner Clinton Morrison is confident that he can make the step up to the Premiership after becoming Birmingham's record signing in a £4 million plus move from Crystal Palace.

The 24-year-old has finally put pen to paper on a four-year deal as Steve Bruce, who also managed Morrison at Crystal Palace, secured his number one summer target.

Morrison had scored 71 goals in 178 appearances for the Eagles but felt the time was right to try his luck in the top flight.

And he is relishing the prospect of making his bow with City against champions Arsenal in the opening Premiership match on August 18th.

His long-running transfer saga was finally concluded after Andy Johnson agreed to move to Palace in part exchange.

"I had some great times at Palace and they taught me so much but I felt it was time to move on with Premiership football on the horizon," Morrison said.

"I did my time at Palace, through the good times and the bad times, but I am really relishing the chance to work again with Steve Bruce.

"I think I can do a job at this level. You have got to be confident. Morrison says he does not have any specific goals for the coming season other than to establish himself in the top flight. "I will not be setting any targets but I will be looking forward to proving people wrong who doubted whether I can do it in the Premiership," he said. "It's a challenge and I am ready to take it on."