GIOVANI Dos Santos believes he has a big year ahead of him at Spurs after exploding onto the scene at the World Cup. The 21-year-old joined Tottenham from Barcelona for �4.7million in June 2008 but has made just 15 first-team appearances in the last two y

GIOVANI Dos Santos believes he has a big year ahead of him at Spurs after exploding onto the scene at the World Cup.

The 21-year-old joined Tottenham from Barcelona for �4.7million in June 2008 but has made just 15 first-team appearances in the last two years and just six under Harry Redknapp - mostly in cup competitions.

The Mexico international spent the second half of last season on loan at Galatasaray but, after

excelling in South Africa, he believes that he is ready to play a major role in another successful season at White Hart Lane.

"The World Cup gave me a lot of confidence and I have brought that back with me," said Giovani. "Now the manager [Redknapp] is giving me the opportunity to show him what I can do in the team, and I am working to play more minutes and games.

"I love this club. They gave me the opportunity to come to the

Premier League and the last year is in the past. I went to Galatasary to get fit for the World Cup and now I am back here with confidence and I want to just stay here.

"In football everything can happen. One day you are at the top and one day you are down. But I think you must work every day, be focused on that and believe you can play.

"I am dedicated. I think this year can be a big year for me, for the team and I am very focused in this year to do big things with the team."

Given that he has spent much of his Spurs career on the fringes of the squad, or in exile at Ipswich and in Turkey, it is rather ironic that Giovani is one of the few Tottenham players with Champions League experience.

The dazzling midfielder appeared for Barcelona in a 3-0 win over Lyon at the Nou Camp in September 2007, and he is anxious to share in Tottenham's European adventure this season.

"I hope this is a wonderful season for all the fans, for the team, for my team-mates. We have Champions League football, everybody is going to watch us and I think it's a great opportunity for all of us," he said.

"I am working hard and I'm very excited because we are playing Champions League this season. It's a special competition, all the best players are playing in it.

"The atmosphere is very different to a normal Premier League game but I think it is a chance to improve and enjoy it - it's a great

tournament.

"We are confident of going through the qualifier and after that being in the final group. I think we have a great squad and great players.