Keller keen to answer Saints call

Keller is happy to help Saints out further if he is needed

Kasey Keller is prepared to help out at Southampton by extending his initial month-long loan period.

Saints head coach Steve Wigley took the Tottenham stopper to cover injuries to Antti Niemi and understudy Paul Smith.

Keller said: "I told Steve I'm glad to help out and I'll be here as long as they need me.

"I don't know if Southampton are prepared to put Antti through that many games over Christmas after just coming back from knee surgery."

Southampton were allowed to take Keller on loan under a Premiership rule which permits clubs with two injured goalkeepers to bring one in.

If Niemi gets back quicker then the loan spell will probably be just the four weeks On-loan keeper Kasey Keller

Alan Blayney initially deputised for Niemi, but Wigley was keen to add some keeping experience to help Saints relegation battle.

Niemi was expected to be out for six weeks after undergoing knee ligament surgery, while former Brentford keeper Smith is recovering from a broken thumb.

Keller said: "If Antti gets back quicker then the loan spell will probably be just the four weeks.

"I'm very happy to be on loan to Southampton at the moment. I'll get three or four games with them, see what happens in the January transfer window and make some decisions after that."

Keller is resigned to being little more than England keeper Paul Robinson's understudy at White Hart Lane.

He is considering returning home to the USA where the domestic Major League Soccer is due to expand.