Jol looks to young Spurs to keep Euro dream alive

TOTTENHAM boss Martin Jol admits progress in the UEFA Cup could affect Premiership form — but he wants his younger players to keep the European buzz going around White Hart Lane.

Spurs will have the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup in sight if they defeat Club Brugge tonight, although they have an important league game against Chelsea on Sunday.

A full house is expected for their Belgian opponents, who they defeated in the 1985 campaign with Clive Allen proving the difference, and the clash is another stage of development for the club’s promising youngsters.

“It’s not only a learning process for the younger players, but it is one of the advantages — the more they play, the more experience they will get,” Jol said.

“The important thing is that we are going from one stage to another so that we will be in the top three of the group, then we are in the next stage, then in the quarter-finals. We want to be in Europe for as long as possible.”

He added: “It could affect our league chances, in the past there is evidence that it happens but I would like to be in Europe, in the league, in the final of the Carling Cup and the final of the FA Cup.

“It could hinder your ambitions but you want to be there and if you want to be a good club you have to compete at all levels.”

Jol may be tempted to rest players for the Brugge clash, although he could continue with Aaron Lennon on the left flank as he did in the goalless draw against Watford last weekend.

Brugge full-back Brian Priske is relishing the occasion, saying: “It will be a great match.

“That’s for certain. White Hart Lane is a great stadium with a great atmosphere.

“For us a European match is a special occasion but for an English club it’s just another game.”

Brugge named a 20-man squad for tonight’s London clash and coach Emilio Ferrera has chosen to omit Olivier De Cock, Moustapha Diallo, Gregory Dufer and Jorn Vermeulen while Daniel Chavez, Michael Klukowski and Joos Valgaeren are all injured.