King ready for Berba test

Defender hoping to be fit for United game

Last updated: 9th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

King ready for Berba test

King: Relishing Berbatov challenge

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Ledley King hopes to keep Dimitar Berbatov quiet when the Bulgarian returns to White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Berbatov joined Manchester United at the end of the summer after a long-running transfer saga.

The uncertainty over Berbatov's future was regarded in some quarters as a factor in Spurs' poor start to the season, but King feels he should get a positive reception this weekend.

King accepts that Berbatov will be a difficult opponent to stop but he is ready for the challenge.

"Dimitar Berbatov was brilliant for the club, and he was a fans' favourite, but hopefully we can keep him quiet on Saturday," he said:

"There will be no animosity between us. We will say hello to him and shake his hand but once we are on the pitch, we have a job to do.

"It happens a lot that you face your former team-mates, and I am used to playing against people I know, so facing Dimitar won't be an issue."

Desperate

King is confident that he will be fit to line up against United despite taking part in Monday's 2-0 victory over West Ham.

Inflammation to his knee means King struggles to play games in quick succession, and the defender will sit out training this week in a bid to be available for selection.

He explained: "Until the match comes along, I won't be counted out. I have niggles, but I just leave it and wait for the day. I have no problem doing that.

"Of course I am desperate to face United, because I want to be involved in all the big games.

"It is a shorter week than normal for me, with the West Ham game being on a Monday night, but I will do my best to prepare and hopefully I will be available."