With Emmanuel Adebayor away at the African Nations Cup with Togo and Jermain Defoe scoreless in his last five games, Clint Dempsey has stepped up for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring four goals in his last four appearances. Though normally an attacking midfielder, the American international insists he can also play up top, as he proved with his last-gasp goal in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

"I can play up front," Dempsey told the Daily Mirror. "I can hold the play up, but also I can play in a role that is a little bit withdrawn, getting balls in the pocket a little bit and get on the half-turn. I can do pressing in a 4-4-2 but defensively I feel comfortable dropping back and putting in a shift by getting in the holding midfield and creating problems for the opposition,” he added.

While he admits to being disappointed with his performances in the first few months of the season, Dempsey feels he has turned things around. "I feel I have been on a good run of form," the 29-year-old said. "For me, it was a slow start to the season, so it is good to be chipping in with goals and repaying the club for their belief in me.”

Spurs currently occupies the fourth and final UEFA Champions League qualification place in the English Premier League table, sitting three points clear of fifth-place Everton.