Squad adjusts for the new season

Last updated : 01 August 2006 By Editor

Martin Jol told the official Spurs website: "The three new signings have all done well so far. With what we've seen, they're on the way to coping with English football. Benoit and Dimitar have done well in the friendlies and Dimitar has scored a couple of terrific goals. We lined-up Didier Zokora early and Dimitar was at the top of scoring charts in the Bundesliga with Miroslav Klose last season."

Berbatov said: "I came here to develop as a player, to become stronger and stronger. What I've seen until now in the games and training we have a very good squad with very good players. I saw how they played and how they scored goals." (Sky Sports)

According to The Sun, ‘Zokora will fill the holding midfield role vacated by Michael Carrick.'

Zokora said: "We finished fifth last season, and we've got into the UEFA Cup this season. It would have been nice if Michael Carrick had stayed because I saw him in the World Cup. But that's the way things have gone. I wasn't known in England before I came and it's a big price tag."

"I listened to an offer from Arsenal, but decided Spurs was where I wanted to be at. One of the things was that they showed they really wanted me. Of course it would have been nice to play with Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue at Arsenal - but I really wanted to go to Tottenham. I was very impressed by what they had to offer and I knew Comolli who came out to speak to me in Germany and told me what a great club Tottenham is." (The Sun)

Jol added: "On the left we only had Young-Pyo Lee last season, in midfield we already had a few players but Carrick has gone. The three strikers have played together (in the recent friendlies) because [Jermaine] Jenas was still not in the team. He arrived last week so he needs some training. Aaron Lennon's the same." (Sky Sports)

Midfielder Jamie O'Hara has been given a shirt number for the new season after signing a new contract with the club. He told the official website: "I was really chuffed to bits over the fact that I got a new deal - I have loved my time here so I was very happy to put pen to paper for another three years. I took a lot out of the loan (to Chesterfield) and really enjoyed it. It was the right move for me, to go out and try and put some performances in where players are fighting to make a living. I was the youngest player in the team and I thought I did well. I think I have been rewarded. It has made me stronger, quicker and I scored five goals - I was struggling to find the net for the reserves!"

"I worked really hard during the close season on my fitness because I knew I would be training with the first team players and knew I had to go up a gear. Barney has done really well, he was a match winner for the reserves and got his reward for it."

Possible starting line-up to play Bolton on August 19:

1. Paul Robinson – 20. Michael Dawson, 30. Anthony Gardner, 3.Young-Pyo Lee – 25. Aaron Lennon, 8. Jermaine Jenas, 4. Didier Zokora, 32. Benoit Assou-Ekotto, 5. Edgar Davids – 10. Robbie Keane, 9. Dimitar Berbatov. Substitutes: 12. Radek Cerny, 21. Wayne Routledge, 16. Reto Ziegler, 6. Teemu Tainio, 18. Jermain Defoe.

26. Ledley King (injured). 17. Marton Fulop, 7. Paul Stalteri, 27. Calum Davenport, 19. Andy Reid, 13. Danny Murphy, 22. Tom Huddlestone, 14. Hossam Ghaly, 28. Lee Barnard, 24. Jamie O'Hara, 29. Philip Ifil.