Cup run is distracting, admits Les

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand admitted today that the team's Worthington Cup exploits have affected their Premiership form.

Ferdinand, who failed a late fitness test before Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat by his old club Newcastle, should return for tomorrow's trip to Derby and warned his teammates to beware a side looking to impress new manager John Gregory.

Spurs have lost a lot of ground in recent weeks - they have won only one of their last seven Premiership games - and are now eight points adrift the top six.

Ferdinand may be kept out of the starting line-up at Derby by Steffen Iversen, who has scored in both his games since returning from long-term injury.

But the former England striker warned: "We can take great heart from our performance against Chelsea but we need to do that week in, week out.

"We've all got a bit carried away with the Worthington Cup competition. We're in the Final, and that's great, but we've got to start picking up points again. Derby will not be easy, though, as teams always seem to put in a bit extra for a new manager."

Spurs defender Anthony Gardner is still struggling with a knee injury.

Midfielder Darren Anderton today admitted how keen he is to play in the World Cup this summer.

Anderton has previously played down talk of an England recall but after a consistent season with Spurs he desperate to be in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad.

He said: "Mr Eriksson hasn't given me any indication that I will be involved in the next squad against Holland but I would love to be.

"Everyone would like to go the World Cup and I'm no different. I know it won't be easy to win a regular place but I am confident in what I can do."

Anderton refused to make excuses for Tottenham's poor league form.

He said: "We've may have had a lot of injuries and there might be a bit of fatigue but we just have to pick ourselves up quickly."

Tottenham's second-choice goalkeeper Kasey Keller saved twice in a penalty shoot-out with Canada to earn the United States a place in tomorrow's final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. They face Costa Rica in Pasadena.

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