BY PAT MOONEY TOM Huddlestone goes into the last six games of the season uncertain of his long-term future at the Lane. The big midfielder, one of three young players recently endorsed by Fabio Capello as being part of his future England plans, made only

BY PAT MOONEY

TOM Huddlestone goes into the last six games of the season uncertain of his long-term future at the Lane.

The big midfielder, one of three young players recently endorsed by Fabio Capello as being part of his future England plans, made only his 11th start of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over West Ham at the Lane.

And Huddlestone only played against the Hammers because Wilson Palacios was suspended. It was his first Premier League start for almost four months.

"It has been very frustrating," Huddlestone told Wood&Vale Sport. "The last league game I started was on Boxing Day. Every player just wants to play in every single game and I'm no different, so it has been very frustrating.

"I'm 23 years old this year. I'm not young any more. I think I've played something like 220 games now and I need to be playing week in week out.

"It is out of my hands, I guess. I just want to be playing, hopefully at Tottenham, but if not I will have to have a think. When [Juande] Ramos was in charge I think I played one game out of the first 13, so obviously you've got to look at things. But as long as I'm at Tottenham I've just got to give 100 per cent and try to win as many games as possible."

Huddlestone, a regular for Stuart Pearce's England's U-21s, is pleased with Capello's interest. "Yes, but that just adds to the frustration," he said. "Everyone's main aim is to play for their country but if I'm sat on the bench week in and week out I'm not going to be able to do that."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp feels Huddlestone could be as good a player as Lilywhiles' legend Glenn Hoddle but says the midfielder is too quiet on the pitch and must start shouting to make himself a better player.

"Maybe, but that's part of my nature to be fair," said Huddlestone. "The manager has got his own ideas. It is just a case of proving to him that I should be playing as much as possible.

"I think everything should be chosen on how you perform on the training pitch or in a game. I'm not the sort of person who will moan or go to the manager if I'm not playing every week. I will try to show him on the training pitch that I should be playing."

Huddlestone has been linked to several clubs, including Fulham and Everton, but is keen to stay at the Lane. "I don't read too much into it really," he said. "I just want to try to stay in the team at Spurs and if the club decides they want to get rid of me then it is up to them, it is out of my hands."

Yet, Huddlestone acknowledges it will be difficult to force his way into Tottenham's midfield now. "Yes, it will be hard," he said. "Wilson has been great since he's come here. He was unlucky to have been sent off last week and Jermaine Jenas has been in great form as has Didier Zokora when he's plays. But If I get a chance next week or towards the end of the season I've got to try to show the manager I should be playing every game."

The former Derby player feels Spurs can now go on to claim seventh spot which should guarantee European football next season. "West Ham were six points in front of us before the Saturday's game in seventh, so obviously we are three points off seventh now," he said.

"That has got to be our main aim now, rather than looking beneath us.Last season we fizzled out a little bit after the Carling Cup final. We don't want to do that, especially to the fans. They want to see us try to win every game and with a main target at the end of it. And now we have a target of seventh so that has got to be our main focus."

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