Tottenham striker Robbie Keane insists he and Jermain Defoe have a future together as an attacking partnership as they prepare to face rock-bottom Sunderland on Sunday.

Coach Martin Jol paired the strikers together against Charlton last weekend and England striker Defoe grabbed a brace in a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane.

But with Spurs waiting for the return of striker Mido from international duty with Egypt, Keane wants Jol to give them another chance to shine in the Stadium of Light.

Jol prefers to play a target man and smaller striker in attack but his views may have changed following Keane and Defoe’s double act against Charlton.

Republic of Ireland international Keane said: "There are a few people saying we can’t (play together), but we know we can.

"There’s no point playing high balls up to us. The manager knows that and so does the team and we proved on Sunday against Charlton we could make it work."

Spurs are still waiting for clarification on Mido’s return today but the Egyptian striker may find himself having to wait for another first-team opportunity at club level.

Mido helped Egypt to the final of the African Nations Cup but has been banned for six months by his country after a touchline row with coach Hassan Shehata.

Mido has since been critical of what he saw as an "overreaction" by the football authorities in his home country and is intent on returning to north London in time to play against Sunderland.

In the meantime, Keane has spoken for the first time about his training ground bust-up with Dutch star Edgar Davids.

Playing down the row, Keane added: "I’m passionate about football and Edgar’s the same. We were good mates before that and we still are and I’ve been around long enough to know it’s nothing unusual for something like that to happen at training."

Spurs have doubts about Davids (stress fracture) while Teemu Tainio is likely to miss out on the trip to Sunderland because of an ankle problem.

PA