Keane's dream £20million move to Merseyside in the summer swiftly turned to disappointment as he struggled for both games and goals, culminating in a deadline-day move back to his former employers at White Hart Lane.

But Keane's self-belief has not been harmed by his Liverpool disappointment.

Indeed, the Republic of Ireland skipper has vowed to repay Spurs boss Harry Redknapp with the goals he insists he could have scored had there been a different man in charge of the Reds.

Despite that, Keane, who has immediately been installed as the new Spurs captain ahead of Sunday's north London derby against Arsenal, is eager not to mark his Anfield departure with bitterness.

"I wish the lads well, Rafa and the staff. I hope they do well," said Keane.

"I'm not getting into a feud with anyone, I'm too big for that and have too much respect for people and what they do.

"I respect Rafa for how he picks his team and unfortunately I just didn't fit in with how he likes to play football.

"I went there and for whatever reason it didn't work out, simple as that. With a different manager there maybe it could have worked.

"The manager has his own opinions on how he wants to play football and set up a system and I didn't fit with that. But I believe it could have worked under a different manager."

Keane revealed that Benitez did not divulge his reasons for leaving him out of the side or discuss his decision to sell him back to Tottenham.

And the striker remains baffled about the Spaniard's decision to look to the likes of unproven duo Nabil El Zhar and David Ngog at key stages of the season.

"I've never been left out of a squad in my career and to be left out is difficult," he said.

"I've proven over the last 10 years that I'm quite capable of doing a job and scoring goals. And no disrespect to anybody at Liverpool or the players ahead of me but if you look at my record, I think mine's a little bit better.

"I believe I should have been in the squad. I believe in my ability and that I should have played maybe a few more games. But I didn't and that's the way it goes."