ROY Keane has effectively ruled out the possibility of Giovani Dos Santos returning to the club this month.

Carl Marston

ROY Keane has effectively ruled out the possibility of Giovani Dos Santos returning to the club this month.

Attacking midfielder Dos Santos impressed during his loan stay at Portman Road last term, and Keane would love to welcome the Mexican back to his squad.

But the Irishman recognises that he has little chance of luring Dos Santos from Premier League club Tottenham to Championship strugglers Ipswich.

"He was fantastic (for Ipswich) last season, but I'm sure he'll have plenty of options. It would be a big ask for us to get him back,"

admitted Keane.

"He's a player who should be playing for a Premier League club. Would he want to go to the Championship, and to a club not near the top? I don't think so.

"I'm confident that I can sell the club to players, if I get a chance to speak to them, but he should not really be playing in the Championship."

Dos Santos made eight appearances for Town last season, scoring four goals into the bargain, but he has only had one outing in the Premier League for Tottenham during the first five months of this campaign.

Keane continued: "I just had a chance to work with him for a few weeks last season, but he's a top player.

"He has a lot to gain from playing games regularly, because his country (Mexico) have qualified for next year's World Cup.

"However, I would very much doubt whether we would pull off that deal.

"And Harry (Redknapp) seems to change his phone number every time I try and speak to him!"