Last Updated: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:46
Striker Darren Bent has admitted that he could be forced to leave Tottenham for regular first team football if he remains third choice.
The England international, who only joined Spurs from Charlton in a record £16.5million move last summer, has struggled to force his way into the plans of boss Juande Ramos due to his decision to start with Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov in games.
However Bent proved his worth on Saturday when he came on as a substitute against Portsmouth at White Hart Lane and scored the 80th-minute opener before setting up fellow sub Jamie O'Hara to seal the 2-0 win two minutes later.
Bent, who has made just nine Premier League starts this season, revealed that he is unlikely to sit around forever to try and secure a regular first-team place after witnessing Jermain Defoe give up after two years when he joined Portsmouth in January.
He said: "Jermain went through it a lot longer than I have - a lot longer than I want to, that's for sure.
"If things continue like this, then I will have to see.
"I knew the situation when I came down here so it is up to me to make an impression and show what I can do. I have to keep going and make an impression every time I come on.
"I'm used to playing week in and week out but sometimes it does not work out like that. I have to keep working hard and do the business when I come on.
"It wasn't nice sitting on the bench with all the rain, hail, sleet and snow. I'd obviously like more minutes on the pitch but my confidence is right up there.
"But the main thing is that I am very happy at Tottenham, I like playing football for this club.
"Whether it is for 25 minutes or 90, I'm happy just to get out there on the pitch."