Benoit Assou-Ekotto not worried about Kyle Naughton threat

Benoit Assou-Ekotto believes Kyle Naughton is not a threat to his place in the Tottenham Hotspur team because he thinks the English defender is "not a real left-back", reports The Guardian.

The 28-year-old had been sidelined for four months with a knee injury, but returned to training back in December, making his first-team comeback against Coventry City in the FA Cup.

During Assou-Ekotto's absence, Naughton has impressed in an unfamiliar left-back role, so much so that the Cameroon international has had to make do with a place on the Spurs substitutes bench.

"He's not a real left-back and I don't think he has the same left foot as me, so I'm not worried about that," reflected the full-back. "I'm not worried because obviously I can do stuff with my left foot that he can't do."

And, after coming on to set up the equaliser in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United at White Hart Lane, the wide man - who has been Tottenham's first-choice number three for the past six seasons - is confident of regaining his place in Andre Villas-Boas's team.

"To come back in the Premier League is quite hard because it's high-tempo," he added. "But sometimes it's easier to play against Manchester United than against a team in the bottom half.

"I think it was a good game to come back in. My cross was OK."

Clint Dempsey's last-gasp goal to earn Spurs a point against United extended the club's unbeaten run to seven games, with the north Londoners sitting fourth in the Premier League table, seven points ahead of local rivals Arsenal.