Hugo Lloris confident Tottenam can challenge for top honours

Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris says it is 'only a matter of time' before his side are challenging for football's top honours.

Mauricio Pochettino's team sit fourth in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Leicester City, face Colchester in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday and also have the Europa League set to resume in the next couple of weeks.

With a young squad impressing many observers, Spurs captain Lloris believes good times lie ahead for the club.

"We have to push ourselves together. Spirit is so important in football because it is a collective sport," the Frenchman told his club's official website.

"The team is young but we are nearly at the level to be ready to compete. It is just a matter of time but, with this mentality and this atmosphere, things are improving quicker than normal.

"We always want to improve and to develop our mentality to become a winning team. The road is still long but we feel we are improving all together and we are starting to be very hungry for the next few months and next few years."

Spurs are just back from a training camp and team-bonding session in Barcelona and Lloris says the trip was beneficial for all concerned ahead of their FA Cup trip to League One strugglers Colchester on Saturday.

"It has been great and exactly what the staff and manager expected from these few days. We have spent time all together breaking up the routine and it was perfect," he added.

"Now we have Colchester and everyone knows about cup competitions. To keep going you need to be great and be lucky with the draw."