Gordon Strachan has failed in an audacious bid to bring Robbie Keane back to Highfield Road.

The Sky Blues boss tried to secure the services of last season’s wonderkid on loan from Inter Milan.

Reports that Keane is unsettled at Inter have been flying around for weeks, and rumours suggested that he would be joining David O’Leary’s team of young stars at Leeds for the remainder of the season.

Eager to bolster his low-scoring strikeforce, Strachan made queries.

But he said he was rebuffed by the Italian giants, who told him that if Keane were to be loaned out it would be to another Italian club.

Keane, aged 20, has struggled to get in the side since Marcello Lippi was replaced as Inter coach by Marco Tardelli.

He faces a lengthy queue to get in side, with top internationals such as Hakan Sukar, Ivan Zamerano, Chirstian Vieri and Ronaldo ahead of him in the pecking order when fit.

Wolves boss Colin lee has also failed to bring Keane back to England on loan, and reports linking the Irish star with a move to Charlton have also been denied.

Meanwhile Norwich have been playing a similar game, bidding to re-sign Craig Bellamy after his lukewarm start to the season.

But with the Welsh international scoring the winner yesterday after playing a slightly different role, it is unlikely that Strachan will consider letting him go.

He is desperate for first team football, having lost his place in the Scotland team because of his failure to get into the Sky Blues team following a disastrous start to the season.