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Transfer fee pressure, suspension and injury have ruined start to my Spurs career but I’m good to go now says Sissoko

after he was given a threegame ban for elbowing Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter last month.

Sissoko said: “It was something involuntary. Even the opposition player said so. I had to work harder than others in training and some double sessions to keep up.”

He is now eyeing a regular spot in the Spurs side when the Premier League resumes.

He added: “Tottenham is the biggest club I have known. You must convince in every game, every training session.

“But competition never scared me and the coach is correct to play the best players in current form for the team to be always on top.

“If we want to win something late in the season, that is how we can get there.”

Team-mate and defender Toby Alderweireld (left) believes he and Jan Vertonghen have the best defensive partnership in the Premier League because each knows what the other is thinking. Spurs have the tightest defence in the top flight, having conceded just six goals.

The north Londoners also had the joint-best defence last season, along with Manchester United.

Alderweireld has missed the last three league games through injury.

But the Belgian, arguably the Premier League’s best defender, can’t wait to resume playing alongside Vertonghen.

He said: “We know each other well, I feel like you can see that on the pitch.

“In games, it comes down to a second, and if you need to tell the other what he needs to look at, the problem has already gone past you.”

Alderweireld injured his knee at West Brom last month and has been out ever since.

But Tottenham are hoping that he will be fit to return after the international break for their next game at home against West Ham.