Friday 16 December 2016 13:24, UK
Tottenham Hotspur are yet to find anything like their best form this season but should not be written off in the Premier League title race just yet, according to Danny Rose.
Spurs are just starting to recapture their early season form but Mauricio Pochettino's side have won only four of their last 14 games in all competitions and crashed out of the Champions League group stages in the process.
They have also dropped to fifth in the Premier League table and trail leaders Chelsea by 10 points ahead of Sunday's White Hart Lane date with Burnley.
"It's fair to say we're probably still in third gear. We haven't hit the heights of last season. Hopefully, once the new year comes, we can push on," said Rose.
"We had a good December and January last season and we're looking to do that again. I've no idea why we haven't hit the heights yet. We know that and I think that's a positive to take.
"We're in the park still and we're probably only playing at 60 per cent. I don't see why we can't be in the title race. It's a good position we're in."
One of last season's top performers, Dele Alli, has also failed to live up to much loftier expectations placed on him so far this campaign.
The midfielder has scored three Premier League goals in 15 appearances but his last came more than two months ago.
But Rose defended his compatriot vigorously and is backing the 20-year-old to rediscover his form soon.
"It's his second season in the Premier League. Everyone is not giving him as much time as he had last season," Rose added.
"Dele is still our most dangerous player. He's not doing as well as last season but neither is anyone else.
"He's working under the best manager and the manager will get the best out of him. He's getting chances. There's no panic. We know Dele will start scoring again like he did last season."
