Holtby keen for repeat celebration

06 December 2013 13:01

Lewis Holtby hopes to recreate his cringeworthy goal celebration double act with Kyle Walker at Sunderland.

The Germany midfielder lashed in his first Barclays Premier League goal for Tottenham in Wednesday's 2-1 victory at Fulham.

Spurs claimed their first league win in five games at Craven Cottage to ease the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Close friends Holtby and Walker stuck to a light-hearted celebration pledge in the wake of the winning goal at Fulham.

The duo ended up bundled onto the ground, with Holtby admitting he would be "ashamed" to watch it back on television.

But not even that embarrassment would be enough to stop him and Walker reprising their unusual goal toast should either find the net on Wearside.

Holtby said: "He is a very good friend and we said to each other that whenever we score and we are both on the pitch we will do a celebration.

"So we got together, did our little handshake and did a rolling around the floor type of thing.

"It looked weird but we had a great laugh.

"It was a fantastic thing to do with him."

Holtby added: "Hopefully (we will do it) at Sunderland again.

"He is such a funny guy. If I see it on television, I will be ashamed of myself but I am always up for good fun."

Holtby may like to play the joker, but he is deadly serious about Tottenham's need for league points ahead of Christmas.

Manager Villas-Boas has been forced to defend his Spurs record this term after bringing in a host of new faces to offset the summer loss of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

The new recruits are yet to hit their personal and collective stride at White Hart Lane, and Holtby believes Spurs must seize on that Fulham victory to make December their season turning point.

He said: "The fixtures we have are very important now and there is a possibility of getting a lot of points.

"There are games every three days in December so we have to be up for it every time."

Jan Vertonghen suffered an ankle injury at Fulham and Villas-Boas has admitted the defender is a doubt for Saturday.

Mousa Dembele's ongoing hip complaint ruled him out of the Fulham clash at the last minute, but after resting he could come back into contention at the Stadium of Light.

Full-back Danny Rose has made a tentative return to training, but is not yet ready for a playing comeback.

Source: PA