Pienaar has been blighted by injury since his January arrival at White Hart Lane with an abdominal muscle complaint the latest setback. The 29-year-old has been limited to just one appearance this season, in the Europa League last Thursday, and watched Sunday's 3-1 defeat of Fulham from the bench.
Tottenham sit on the brink of the top four and Pienaar accepts that breaking into a team operating at full throttle will be difficult. But the South Africa midfielder is determined to prove his worth.
'It's depressing. The team is playing well and getting results, which is satisfying,' he said. 'But if you're not playing you don't have a hand in helping the team and as a player you always want to be part of a team that's doing well. 'If you're not part of it, it's like getting your money without doing anything. But I will definitely get my chance. There are a lot of games this season and you just have to be patient. 'There's no way the team will perform at this level for the whole season. You just have to wait.'
'You don't wish anyone to get injured, so I'll just have to wait for my chance and I believe it will come. 'The coaching staff have told me I have to get fit, that I've been unlucky with injuries. They believe in me and I believe in myself. 'The guys are in good form and we're on a good run. When you're injured you have to keep fighting and working hard and be patient. 'When your opportunity does come you have to prove yourself again and make sure you hold onto your place.'
Even if Pienaar fails to break into the Spurs line-up by the end of the campaign, he will remain at White Hart Lane. 'In January I signed a four-and-half-year contract,' said Pienaar who rejected a move to Chelsea in favour of joining Spurs. 'If it's not working out this season I'll just have to wait until next season. That's part and parcel of football. You just have to keep on going and don't give up.'
Spurs are fifth in the Premier League after Sunday's win over Fulham Seven wins in eight matches has powered Tottenham up the Premier League and Pienaar is convinced they can finish in the Champions League places. 'The way we're going we can definitely finish in the top four. It's going to be a season with a surprise in it,' he said. 'We're only one point off Manchester United if we win our game in hand.'
'It depends how the team is playing, but we can even finish close to Manchester City.' Tottenham enter the international break perched three points above Arsenal and Pienaar would love to secure north London bragging rights. 'We don't speak about it but of course you want to finish above your neighbours. It's a good feeling,' he said. 'Hopefully the way things are going we should finish above them. Then it will feel good walking around north London.'
Source: Daily_Mail
