Berbatov puts friends on hold

The Bulgaria striker was a crowd favourite at Leverkusen but has so far shown his best form for Spurs only in the UEFA Cup, with three of his four goals coming in Europe.

Despite a welcome return to the club for whom he played in the 2002 Champions League Final defeat to Real Madrid aged just 21, Berbatov is keen to continue his learning curve with his new side even at the expense of some close friends.

The £10.9million signing said: "I was at home when they told me we had drawn Bayer Leverkusen because I was on international duty. I was sick.

"I had five wonderful years there but that is over. It will be strange, but I am a professional player. I play for Tottenham and I will try to score. It doesn't matter that they are my friends, I will forget about that and try to help my team.

"I will celebrate like usual, raise my hand and show that I have scored. I appreciate that I play for Tottenham and I will try to show that with my goals."

Berbatov admits he failed to appreciate the full magnitude of a European Cup Final appearance after coming on as a first-half substitute and is keen to try to repeat the experience with Spurs.

Looking back on the game at Hampden Park, Berbatov said: "I was so young that I didn't give a damn. I was sitting on the bench and thinking nothing. Then the coach said you are in and I was like 'OK, whatever'. Maybe when time goes by I will appreciate that it might never happen again.

"But the Tottenham team is a mix of youth and experience and, hopefully, we can achieve something as big as that. I think we have the quality to win the UEFA Cup. Tottenham have perhaps seen the best of me in this competition. I know about that and I am working as hard as possible to improve my quality in England."

Leverkusen boss Michael Skibbe is convinced. once Berbatov has had time to adapt to the pace of the English game, the transfer fee paid by Spurs boss Martin Jol will look like money well spent.

Skibbe said: "We miss him very much here in Leverkusen. He's one of the best strikers in the world. He's got wonderful technique, is good with his head, both feet are fast and all the time he has an eye for players in better positions. He's special.

"It's his first season in England, so in six, eight or 10 months he will be special and grow more and more. I'm sure he will be one of the best players in the Premiership."

Jol will give a late fitness test to Aaron Lennon, who missed Sunday's draw against Blackburn with a knee injury, while Pascal Chimbonda looks set to return after shaking off his knee problem. Jermaine Jenas is still out with a calf strain.

Wins against Besiktas and Club Brugge have put Jol's side in a commanding position in Group B, with an away point tonight likely to be enough to see Spurs through to the knockout stages.