ASTON VILLA MANAGER Alex McLeish has said he will be patient with new loan signing Robbie Keane, despite the striker only being available for a six-week period.

Keane appeared as a substitute in the club’s last game against Everton, and is in the squad for this week’s encounter with Wolves, but is currently regaining his fitness after taking a three-week break following the end of the MLS season.

And speaking to reporters, McLeish said he did not feel obliged to start Keane for Saturday’s match:

“There isn’t any pressure to start Robbie. He is not here for long but it has to be the right time.

“We are just assessing him fitness-wise. He will be very eager to play in this one (against Wolves) but he is the kind of lad who wants to be involved whoever the opposition is.”

And McLeish, who also tried to sign Keane when he was manager of Birmingham, added: “Robbie has been looking sharp so I’ve got food for thought for the weekend but I don’t want to give anything away in advance of the game.”

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