Tomas Pekhart is hoping that Jermain Defoe's departure from Spurs will see him handed a first-team chance.
Striker hoping for chance against former club
Tomas Pekhart is hoping that Jermain Defoe's departure from Tottenham will see him handed a first-team opportunity.
The Czech Under 20 international still has Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane ahead of him in the White Hart Lane pecking order, but after impressing for the reserves this season he could be set to make the step up in the near future.
With Spurs also set to play his former side Slavia Prague in the Uefa Cup next Thursday, Pekhart has revealed that he has already started dreaming about making his debut against his former team-mates.
Motivation
"It is a big motivation for me," he told
CTK.
"If it all turned out and I played against Slavia, it would be something unbelievable.
"I have been dreaming of playing at the Strahov Stadium and what it is funny, I scored a goal in one of those dreams."
Breakthrough
While it remains to be seen whether Juande Ramos will give him an opportunity next week, it is obvious that the Spaniard holds the striker in high regard having turned down a loan approach from Queens Park Rangers during the recent transfer window.
It is precisely this show of support which has convinced Pekhart that he is now closer than ever to making a breakthrough into the first team.
"A couple of times in the past it seemed like I was set for a first-team match and each time something has spoilt it," he said.
"But it is true that I am now the closest I have been to getting a chance as the transfer window is closed and Tottenham cannot buy anyone until the summer."
Options
Despite his optimism though, Pekhart has admitted that if he continues to be overlooked in the coming months then he will be forced to reconsider his options in the summer.
"If the situation does not improve then I will be willing to go on loan," he said.
"As an 18-year-old I don't need to be going to Barcelona, I just need to play regularly. It doesn't matter whether that is in England or somewhere else.
"Training sessions at Tottenham are great and help me out a lot, but they are no substitute for an actual match."
