Manchester United striker Rooney faces Tottenham at White Hart Lane with Jol tipping Irish youngster Dixon, just 17, to be as good as the Old Trafford frontman.

Dixon, who signed professional terms with Spurs last month, has already played for the Republic under-21s and was on the bench for the senior side's friendly with Chile in May last year.

The teenager's fast-track to stardom was jolted by a serious knee injury in August - but he is nearing full fitness after a long lay-off for surgery on his dislocated kneecap.

And Jol has no doubts over his quality. "People don't know that Dixon's almost like Rooney, " he said. "People in Ireland could probably say he's a bit like Rooney. He has a great future and I think he's one of the players who will pay in the first team.

"But what can you do now?

He has something wrong with his knee and it's a bad injury.

He has to take one step at a time."

Meanwhile, Jol has affirmed that lifelong Celtic fan Robbie Keane was not close to a January move to Parkhead. The manager insists he has no plans to sell the player he rates as better than ever.

Keane has been frustrated at having to fight with Jermain Defoe for the right to partner Dimitar Berbatov in attack for Tottenham.

The 26-year-old knows he could be dumped back on the bench for United's visit today, due to Berbatov's likely return from a groin injury.

Parkhead manager Strachan, an admirer from their days together at Coventry, was widely understood to have targeted Keane on loan last month.

However, Jol is adamant Keane did not come close to a transfer, although he did tantalisingly hint at a Glasgow move for Keane in the future.

"I swear there was not one situation with Robbie Keane leaving last month, " he said.

"I know Celtic appeals to everybody in Ireland, so maybe in five years' time - but Robbie's playing here now. Can you imagine a situation where I would let one of my best strikers go and play without him? Robbie is important for the club. He's the vice-captain and has shown that he works hard."

Asked if competition for a starting place had improved Keane, Jol said: "Yes, I think so. Robbie must compete with our other strikers and, most of the time, with Jermain - if Berbatov is playing.

"Robbie has pushed himself and, although he's had a lot of competition for a place, he's still scored as many goals as he did three years ago."

Mid-table Spurs, missing injured skipper Ledley King, are desperate to revive their faltering season with a win against the leaders today.

Jol's men were knocked out of the Carling Cup by London rivals Arsenal in midweek and have not won a league game for five weeks.

Former Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick returns to White Hart Lane, with Alex Ferguson convinced his £18.6million signing has improved since his summer move.

The 25-year-old impressed in the straightforward success against Watford in midweek and Ferguson said: "I thought Carrick ran the show for us on Wednesday night - and he was brilliant against Arsenal. He's settled and improved physically as the season has gone on. We have seen that development in the lad and we probably expected that anyway because, as a kid at West Ham, he was a rakish and lanky young man.

"You know when you see a player like that that he will develop physically. He is exactly like that and now we are seeing a player who has come to good age and showed good maturity and he is an absolutely sensational passer of the ball. He creates chances and gives us opportunities - and that is why we bought him."

Louis Saha is set to win a recall after recovering from a knee injury. The Frenchman is likely to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the frontline alongside Rooney.