Carlo urges focus on his return

By Ben Pearce

CARLO Cudicini is warning his Tottenham team-mates that they will be punished should they produce a relaxed performance against Birmingham at the weekend.

The Italian goalkeeper has taken his place between the posts after Heurelho Gomes' injury against Hull City last week.

With a 100 per cent Premier League record so far this season, Spurs will be favourites to overcome the Blues in N17.

But Cudicini is adamant that Spurs will pay the price if they treat Saturday's match as the easiest of their opening four fixtures.

"Most of the time the one that looks easy is the most difficult one," he said. "We are not in a position where we can choose which one is easy and which one is difficult, and we are very focused on what we are doing."

Gomes' injury is a big opportunity for Cudicini, who only started his fifth competitive game for Spurs at the weekend since quitting Chelsea in January.

And the no2 keeper admits he has endured a frustrating 2009 thus far, while also hinting at personal problems away from the pitch.

"It's been a difficult season in many different aspects, not just in the football," Cudicini revealed. "Hopefully this season it will change. Of course it's a real chance and hopefully I will have the chance to play, and play well. When you play of course it's a much better feeling.

"We are starting at the same standard where we finished last season, and this is an important step so hopefully we can carry on.

"The quality is definitely there, the players are very good players and we haven't changed a lot, apart from Crouchy - the team is more or less the same as it was last season, and this helps for sure.

"Everyone knows each other better and this can be the right things for having a good season. At the moment the team looks very solid and this is a good base to build something important at this club.