Keane's will to win can lift youngsters, says Mowbray

(PA)

Tony Mowbray is hoping Robbie Keane's motivation to succeed will rub off on his Celtic team-mates. The Republic of Ireland international showed why the Glasgow club are paying a reported £65,000 per week to borrow him from Tottenham with two goals at Falkirk on Sunday.

The Celtic manager, though, praised Keane for his teamwork as much as his goals, which took his tally to five since joining the Hoops in January. "Top players have that motivation inbred," Mowbray said. "For some of our younger players, hopefully it will rub off. They will see that, if you are going to play at the top level anywhere in the world that is something which has got to come from within. It's not something you can switch on and off on match day.

"Another example would be Wayne Rooney. Whenever he plays, he runs around, tackles, chases and fights."

Mowbray warned his injured stars not to expect to walk back into his team when fit again. The Hoops manager was without Glenn Loovens, Jos Hooiveld, Thomas Rogne, Marc-Antoine Fortuné, Diomansy Kamara, Niall McGinn and the suspended Scott Brown for the trip to Falkirk.

Next up is the Scottish Cup quarter-final tie at Kilmarnock on Saturday and the Celtic manager claims to have been given "food for thought" by his fringe players at the weekend. "The ones who didn't play will have to fight to get back in the team if we continue to win," he said.