Dawson says win over Hearts leaves Spurs well prepared

TOTTENHAM Hotspur captain Michael Dawson says that the 5-0 win over Hearts in last week’s Europa League clash at Tynecastle has left Spurs well prepared for their opening Barclays Premier League match – tonight’s trip to Old Trafford.

The London club were supposed to start their campaign at home to Everton last weekend but the match was called off because of the riots in London. Dawson, though, is not worried that the postponement will have any impact when they travel to face champions Manchester United this evening.

“Hearts had a lot more games than us and we went up there and gave a good performance,” said Dawson, whose teams will play their return match against Hearts at White Hart Lane this Thursday night.

“It will be more or less the same team on Monday and we are ready for Man United now. We’re looking forward to it.”

Dawson is determined for Tottenham to claim a top-four spot this season after missing a large chunk of the club’s Champions League campaign last term through injury.

Manager Harry Redknapp thinks he will need at least two new additions to his squad to make that happen though, and Dawson hopes deals for the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Lassana Diarra are concluded soon.

“Adebayor is a top player,” Dawson added. “We have been linked with a number of top players and whoever comes in will improve the squad.

“New signings always help. We have a fantastic squad but to try and improve and go to that next step you always have to bring in a few new players to freshen things up.”

Hanging on to Chelsea target Luka Modric will be arguably as important as bringing in any new players. Dawson has been vocal in his support for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who says the player is not for sale at any price.

“You want to keep your best players. The chairman has said before that he wants him to stay here and let’s hope he does,” Dawson said. “The lads want him to stay here so we will see what happens.”

Meanwhile, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he believes there is a freshness and vitality to Wayne Rooney this season that ensures “he can never stand still” on the pitch. A year ago it was a different story as Rooney was out of sorts, a slump in form compounded by lurid allegations in early September regarding his private life.

Come mid-October, with just two goals to his name and just one of those for United, Rooney stunned everyone at Old Trafford when he stated he wanted to leave the club.

Two days later, and in a dramatic U-turn, Rooney pledged his future to the club by signing a new five-year contract.

The start of the new year was effectively like turning over a new leaf for the 25-year-old as the goals began to flow again, scoring 14 in 26 appearances over the second half of the season. Such form has spilled over into this season with Rooney scoring 13 minutes into last Sunday’s season-opening 2-1 win at West Brom to suggest the campaign ahead could be a significant one.

“He’s been flying in pre-season,” said Ferguson. “His fitness is terrific, he has the same energy all the time, he is a restless player on the pitch, he can never stand still. He is a tremendous asset to our squad.

“It’s interesting to see how he is combining with Danny Welbeck at the moment. Both have done very well together.”

Giving 20-year-old Welbeck an opportunity in the Community Shield and at The Hawthorns has left Dimitar Berbatov consigned to the bench, whilst Ferguson also has Javier Hernandez to come back from concussion.

The attacking options for Ferguson are mouthwatering. The Scot added: “I’ve Berbatov who did very well in pre-season, he played really well.

“When Chicarito Hernandez returns then I’ve a selection problem to work out the best combination.”

With Hernandez still sidelined and with Michael Owen also out with a niggly back problem, Ferguson is limited to either Berbatov or Welbeck to start alongside Rooney for the visit of Tottenham.

Although Spurs have not won at Old Trafford since 1989, a run of 26 matches in all competitions, they head to the north west in fine form after that thumping win over Hearts.

Even Ferguson has admitted to being “surprised” at the margin of victory as the SPL side had already played six competitive matches prior to entertaining a Spurs side for whom it was their first game of the season.

“I watched the game and they played very well,” added Ferguson. “They had too much class for Hearts, and class tells, no matter the level of fitness of teams. Tottenham had that more than Hearts.”