Robbie Keane to start for Galaxy against San Jose

Coach Bruce Arena has made good on his word. Irish striker Robbie Keane will start for the Galaxy on Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Friday, Arena said the Galaxy's newest player would play "significant minutes" and joked that Keane would prefer to play 100 minutes in a 90-minute game. Keane is two days removed from landing at LAX and has one practice with the team under his belt. But Landon Donovan said Friday that Ireland's all-time leading scorer looked ready to go in training.

The Galaxy tied the Earthquakes, 0-0, in June, but San Jose is in a record slump -- winless in its last six games. The Earthquakes, however, tend to elevate their level of play for each installment of the "California Clasico," and the fanfare surrounding Keane's debut could provide extra incentive for San Jose to knock off the first-place Galaxy.

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-- Matt Stevens

Photo: Robbie Keane.  Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press