Ramos enjoys double boost
27 Dec 2007 - 09:00:23
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Juande Ramos has praised midfielder Tom Huddlestone for his improved performances for the club in recent weeks.
The 20-year-old netted twice as Spurs swept aside Fulham 5-1 on Boxing Day, having recently been forced to improve his fitness levels by the Ramos regime.
"We are happy that the team has players that have slimmed down, they are obviously a lot lighter now," Ramos commented.
"The team appreciates this because we needed this to happen.
"Tom's weight worried us a lot at the beginning, but you could see that he is making a real effort to be fit enough. You can see the results now.
"He was magnificent. His ball control and touch, he's had a really good performance and he's participated a lot in the match.
"I don't know how much weight Tom has lost but we have it on record."
Meanwhile, Ramos was also delighted to have skipper Ledley King back in action for the first time this season after knee surgery.
The Spaniard added: "He's still getting better. He's not 100 per cent yet, but we needed him to play because we did not have enough defensive players.
"His performance was good overall and it's obvious he has experience which he has brought to the team. It is good to have him back on the pitch.
"To have players like Ledley in defence is great because of the international experience he brings and he knows the team very well.
"Later we will have a look at him and how his knee is getting on. It depends on how he comes out of this game as to whether he can play again during the week."