Tottenham Hotspur - 3 Bolton Wanderers - 1 Finding a striker to add regular goals to Tottenham's free-flowing but unfinished football has proved an elusive part of Glenn Hoddle's master plan since he took control at White Hart Lane 19 months ago, but in Robbie Keane he can be surer than ever that the solution has arrived.

Keane finished two eye-catching moves for his first home goals since moving to north London on the last day of August and proved a constant menace to a Bolton side who are now bottom of the Premiership.

In contrast, Tottenham have moved up to third and Keane, who scored his first Spurs goal in their last outing, a 2-1 win at Blackburn, will be the key to them staying in the upper reaches of the league.

The Republic of Ireland striker's finishes yesterday were not among his most spectacular, with a combined distance of about six yards, but this will have made them even more pleasing for Hoddle: he now has a poacher who can also dazzle with his flair, exuberance and energy.

The test will be whether he can score the 20 goals that could propel Tottenham into Europe.

Hoddle is quietly confident. "He's a wonderful talent," said Tottenham's manager. "We said when he arrived that he needed to find a home. He was drifting a bit and at 22 he needed to settle down, which he seems to have done.

"I'm delighted for him that he's got the goals. He was lively from the first to the last minute and if he keeps showing that quality he will increase his tally quickly."

Keane is not the only bright spot for Hoddle. An injury list that has limited his options is clearing fast.

Stephen Carr returned to the starting line-up for his first action since the opening day of the season, when he picked up a hamstring injury, and Gustavo Poyet came off the bench after a long-term knee problem to set up Keane's second.

Spurs have won all their home games this season with the exception of the 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in their last match at White Hart Lane and Hoddle was delighted that this humiliation had proved a mere blip.

How Sam Allardyce would love to be in Hoddle's shoes. Bolton have taken only one point from a possible 15 and the manager's outlook was not positive.

"It's looking bleak," he said. "We will keep being creative, but we need to be more ruthless in defence. If it has to detract from our attacking then so be it. We have to get back to basics as we're in a precarious position."

Bolton's position would be helped if they had a striker on a hot streak such as Keane's. Michael Ricketts has yet to score from open play this season and it was easy to see why as he prodded a flick from Ricardo Gardner wide after 14 minutes.

And he missed an even clearer chance to give Bolton the lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Within two minutes, Tottenham were ahead. Goran Bunjevcevic hit a splendid pass to Simon Davies on the right wing. He guided the ball back across goal for Keane to slot home.

The lead had been coming - Carr had seen a volley clawed on to the bar by Jussi Jaaskelainen and Bolton's goalkeeper smothered Teddy Sheringham's shot - but it proved short lived.

Four minutes later, Kevin Nolan flicked the ball over a static home defence for Youri Djorkaeff to finish in style into the top corner.

Hoddle responded by introducing Poyet and it proved an inspired change.

In the 72nd minute, the Uruguayan was fed by Davies and his low cross was scrambled home by Keane.

The third duly arrived when Sheringham found Davies, who capped a splendid week, having scored in Wales's win against Italy, by finishing emphatically from 12 yards.

Tottenham are riding high and, with Keane flying, they may just stay there.

TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Perry, Bunjevcevic, Richards, Etherington (Poyet 70), Davies, Redknapp, Freund, Sheringham, Keane. Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Doherty, Iversen, Acimovic. Goals: Keane 58, 74, Davies 90.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Charlton, Bergsson, Nolan, Whitlow, Djorkaeff (Okocha 75), Campo (Dean Holdsworth 77), Farrelly, Barness, Gardner, Ricketts. Subs Not Used: Poole, Frandsen, Armstrong. Booked: Nolan. Goals: Djorkaeff 63.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).