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Robbie Keane's delight at Wolves' impressive start

Former Wolves star Robbie Keane says staying in the Premier League should be the club's priority this season despite their impressive start.

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Robbie Keane in his Wolves days

Nuno Espirito Santo's team sit ninth in the table having only lost one of their opening five matches.

They head to Old Trafford tomorrow to take on Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, fresh from back-to-back wins over West Ham and Burnley.

Keane said: "They’ve started off very well, but all Wolves need to do this season is stay in the Premier League.

"Previously, when they came up, they got relegated straight back because they never had any momentum – they didn’t have the backing that they do now.

"The manager is a really good guy and a good manager and, with the players he’s brought in, they’ll definitely stay up.

"They could finish much higher, with the way they’re playing at the moment, but their main objective should be just to stay in the league and then hopefully kick on next year.

"The owner, I know, is very ambitious, who knows where it could take them? He’s putting his money where his mouth is so far, he’s said what he’s going to do, and I don’t see any reason why he’s not going to continue to do that."

Ruben Neves has starred for the club since his £15.8million move from Porto last summer.

Keane believes Wolves could attract further star names in the future if they continue to do well.

"A statement signing will come at some stage," he said. "But I think, with the players they’ve already brought in, keeping hold of a couple of them will be more important.

"If you look at Reuben Neves, the midfield player, he’s only 21, I didn’t realise he was that young – he looks good, he can pass, he can score goals.

"The key now is to keep those type of players. But if they can get a big name in, in the next year or so, which I’m sure they will, that’d help.

"But, also, there’s going to be a lot of bargains along the way, which they’ve been doing, from Portugal, because of the connections they have there."

Keane started his career at Wolves aged just 17, staying for two seasons before going on to play for the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Inter Milan.

Despite leaving Molineux way back in 1999, it's a club he still holds close to his heart.

"It means a lot to me to see Wolves do well," Keane said. "It’s a fantastic club, a really good family club, with good people around it, in a great area.

"They love their football and they’ve been robbed of it for the last number of years, because they’ve never really had the proper backing which they have now.

"It’s great to see Wolves doing well. For me, they’re the ones who gave me my start, I still have the connection there with the supporters. I left Ireland at 15 to go to Wolves so of course they’ll always have a special place in my heart."

Keane was talking at the opening of Paddy Power’s Museum of Mischief, for more information head to news.paddypower.com