King confident of top four finish

Ledley King is confident that Tottenham will finish the season in the top four and admits the club head into Christmas in a better position than at any time during his 15 years at the club.

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Spurs lost ground in the title chase on Thursday as they drew 1-1 with rivals Chelsea at White Hart Lane. A win would have sent them five points clear of the Blues with a game in hand, but King was quick to remind the Spurs squad and fans that they have never had it so good in recent times.

King said: "I don't remember going into Christmas in such a good position, especially with the points tally that we've managed to get. It's been great so far."

Being captain, King was keen to send a message out to his players that complacency could cost them dear over the festive period as they prepare to take on Norwich, Swansea and West Brom.

But there is an inescapable optimism around the Spurs camp at the moment that stems from the strength in depth that manager Harry Redknapp has available.

The likes of William Gallas, Sandro, Jermain Defoe and Niko Kranjcar have had to settle for a place on the bench recently thanks to the excellent form of Younes Kaboul, Rafael van der Vaart and Scott Parker, who has been a revelation since signing in the summer.

King knows that expectations have risen at White Hart Lane after recent results, and admits there will be profound disappointment if the club do not achieve the top-four finish which escaped them last season.

"It's a tough league and we're not even halfway there yet," he added.

"We've really got to keep our form up for the rest of the season. It will be tough work, but we've got the players and the squad so we feel we can give it a good push.

"We would be disappointed if we didn't make the top four, definitely. With the squad that we've got here we feel we're more than capable of that."

Van der Vaart blow for Spurs

Tottenham's injury crisis deepened on Thursday night with the news Rafael van der Vaart is likely to miss the club's next three games with a hamstring injury.

Van der Vaart has played a key part in Tottenham's impressive form recently, but struggled to make an impact in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea and had to come off at half-time after complaining of a hamstring injury.

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It is not the first time the Dutchman has spent a spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring complaint, and he is now doubtful for the upcoming games against Norwich, Swansea and West Brom, Harry Redknapp confirmed after the game. "I'd think he would be out for the festive period," the Spurs boss said.

"He seems to suffer from hamstring problems a lot and he got another one, but when he plays he's a fantastic footballer, the little fella."

Five of Redknapp's squad are now on the sidelines with hamstring complaints. Aaron Lennon suffered his injury against Sunderland on Sunday and is likely to be out for the club's next three games, while Ledley King and Younes Kaboul both hurt their hamstrings on Thursday night, the latter in the warm up.

Jermain Defoe was absent with his hamstring problem, but Redknapp hopes the England striker could be fit for the club's trip to Norwich on December 27.

He is desperately needed as Van der Vaart is now out and Emmanuel Adebayor and Roman Pavlyuchenko have been struggling with knocks recently.

Redknapp said: "I don't know whether Jermain will be fit. We'll see how he goes. Hopefully Adebayor and Pav are OK, so we'll have a couple of strikers. I'm hoping Jermain might be fit."