Robbie Keane yesterday joined the growing Leeds revolution as boss David O'Leary unveiled a player he believes is ''out of the Alan Shearer mould''.

Keane will make his debut in day's Elland Road clash with Aston Villa as Leeds received international clearance late in the afternoon.

Although Keane is on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season, he has already put pen to paper to a five-year contract believed to be worth just over £20,000 per week, commencing from July 1 next year.

Leeds will then pay the Italian giants £12m for the 20-year-old forward, a sum which will take O'Leary's spending during his time at the club to £71m.

In Republic of Ireland striker Keane, O'Leary concedes he is again signing potential, but a player in whom he sees similarities with one of the greatest England strikers of modern times in Shearer.

''You like to get good players and I've someone who I know can go on to be a very good player,'' said O'Leary, who is a Dubliner like Keane.

''In Robbie we're buying potential because he is not the finished article. We are buying a player who is out of the Alan Shearer mould.

''He is someone who is mentally strong to handle the big stage at a big club, and he has a hunger to be a great player and that is what we want."

Keane's return to the Premiership stage comes just five months after a dream £13m move from Coventry to Inter.

But with Marco Tardelli replacing Marcello Lippi as coach, all of a sudden Keane did not figure in the plans of the legendary Italy international.

Keane has no regrets and is now turning his attentions to helping Leeds become a European giant, even though he is ineligible to play in the remainder of United's Champions League campaign, which recommences in February.

''When I was at Wolves (his first club) I always dreamed I would do well and play for the best clubs in the world, and three years on I can say I've played for Inter Milan and now I'm going to be playing for Leeds,'' said Keane, who chose United in preference to joining Chelsea.

''It's been a great experience for me, a rollercoaster ride from day one, but I'm enjoying every minute of it and I'm looking forward to playing again after the disappointment of things not working out in Italy.

''I wanted it to work there and things were going well under Mr Lippi, but we all know in football things change and when the new manager came in he had his own ideas.

''I've nothing against Mr Tardelli. He is a great man and a great manager, but unfortunately I just didn't figure in his plans.

''It was very frustrating to be sitting on the bench. As a player you want to be playing in every game, although I knew before I went over that wasn't going to happen.

''When you're sitting on the bench you're thinking about how much you want to play, but that's football. It happens at all clubs, including Manchester United and Leeds, not just Inter Milan.

''But in coming back I don't think I've a point to prove. I went over to Italy to be a star and unfortunately it didn't work out for me.

''I'm just grateful they gave me a chance. It was an experience for me and something I'll never forget and I've never regretted.

''Now I've joined another great club and with the squad we've got we're quite capable of reaching the Champions League this season.

''It would be great to do that and next year be playing in it and winning it - you never know.''

Despite O'Leary's considerable outlay on players, chairman Peter Ridsdale states there is no pressure on the Irishman to win silverware just yet.

European football next season, though, is a must, with O'Leary targeting a top-three place, and Ridsdale said: ''We aspire to be a top football club in this country and in Europe and to do that you have to have the best squad available.

''But there is no pressure on David whatsoever. Earlier this year we signed a six-year contract with David because I wanted to send out a signal that this club is all about building long term.

''We don't knee-jerk react. We build in the belief that we know what we are doing and there is no pressure on anybody here, other than our own burning ambition to succeed.

''The only pressure at this club will be self-imposed, on me by myself and by David on himself, because I know how ambitious he is.''

Skipper Lucas Radebe returns to the squad to face Villa from a one-match suspension, but midfielder Olivier Dacourt is banned for a game after picking up five bookings for the season.

It could mean David Batty in the starting line-up after returning to the side for the first time in a year last week after an Achilles injury.

Leeds confirmed last night they have received international clearance and Keane is available to play against Villa.