Clint Dempsey is pleased to have “picked up where he left off” following the injury which ruled him out of two games over Christmas.

The American missed the matches against Stoke and Aston Villa and was then limited to substitute appearances in the ensuing clashes with Sunderland and Reading.

However, that has not halted the 29-year-old’s progress at Tottenham and he scored in the victory over the Royals before netting twice against Coventry on Saturday, while also setting up Gareth Bale’s goal, on his return to the starting line-up.

“I was on a good run of form before, but I picked up an injury in the first five minutes of the Swansea game,” said Dempsey. “I tried to play through it but I had a Grade Two tear of my abductor and I was out for 10 days.

“I feel like I’ve picked up where I left off in terms of my contribution in the attacking third and creating opportunities – I put [Emmanuel] Adebayor through against Sunderland, I got a goal in the Reading game and then got two goals against Coventry.

“I think the season’s gone okay so far. I’ve got six goals and five assists in all competitions so it’s starting to look better.

“I’m someone who likes to score goals and get assists, so it’s good to be getting my stats up and contributing and trying to help this team do well. It’s going well but I still want to get better at what I’m doing.

“I’ll play wherever the club want me to play and I’ll give everything I’ve got - that’s what I’ve always done in my career.

“I think I can play in a number of different positions and I’ve just got to make sure that when I get my opportunities I take them and do well.”

Dempsey believes a fast start was vital against League One outfit Coventry, and he has hailed Spurs’ ruthless first-half display as the hosts racked up a 3-0 half-time lead.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game - they had nothing to lose and they had an opportunity to come out and do something special,” he said.

“We needed to make sure we came out and put in a professional performance. The longer they’re in the game the more they start to believe that they can win, so it was good for us to get goals early, to get 3-0 up in the first half and get a shut-out, so we’re happy with the result.”

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